Behind the Scenes at the Knob Reserve

Our On Country crews are regulars at The Knob Reserve – out early, tools in hand, doing the work that keeps this place healthy, welcoming and cared for. 

Recently the crews have been repairing the decking at the lookout and carrying out weed mapping across the Reserve. It’s all part of the ongoing work as Joint Management partners that doesn’t always make headlines but makes a big difference. 

Kevin Hood, Crew Leader for our East On Country team, says the mapping is critical. 

“We walk the Reserve, mark any weeds we find on the iPad, treat them, and track progress. It means we can see what’s working and jump on new outbreaks quickly.” 

One area the crew visited recently was a large patch of Blue Periwinkle close to the river. Spraying was not an option.

“We’re really careful around waterways. If the wind takes the spray, it can contaminate the water, and we won’t take that risk. Instead, we covered the whole area with black tarp and pegged it down. The heat builds up underneath and over time it kills the weed.” 

It wasn’t a quick fix.

“Because it was such a big infestation, we kept it covered for over six months. Now that it is controlled, we will check the area every couple of weeks to make sure it doesn’t come back.” 

Blue Periwinkle is just one of the weeds the crews tackle at The Knob Reserve – others include Nightshade, English Ivy, Boxthorn and Bridal Creeper. It’s hard, sometimes slow work, but bit by bit, the Reserve is improving. 

And the crew love it when regular walkers lend a hand.

“If people spot weeds, we’d love to hear from them. Take a photo and send it through – even better if you can geolocate it. It saves us time and helps us act fast.” 

So if you spot something while walking at The Knob, take a photo and send it to comms@glawac.com.au

Caring for Country isn’t a one-off job – it’s a commitment. And we’re here for it.