RESIDENTS with olive trees are being asked to do their part to prevent the spread of unwanted trees amongst native vegetation.
The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board is inspecting olive orchards across Lower Eyre Peninsula and is asking the community to pick olives from their own trees or remove them altogether.
Landscape officer, Gemma Marshall, said olives grew well in most environments and soil types, and because of this they were a high risk of invading native vegetation in the region.
She said animals ate the fruit and dispersed the seeds in their droppings.
"Olives invade, out-compete and suppress native vegetation and invade ungrazed land such as roadsides and fence lines.," she said.
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"As animals spread the seed you may not realise or notice olives that have germinated in your yard but we're asking the community to keep a look out and pull them out when small."
Olives trees not planted, used and maintained for domestic, public amenity or commercial purposes are declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 which means people need pick all the fruit from their trees or else control the plant, including any seedlings that pop up.
The landscape board inspects orchards biennially to ensure growers are picking fruit and ensuring they minimise the spread of feral trees.
Ms Marshall said it was important we all did our bit to reduce the spread of weeds into local parks, reserves and neighbouring properties.
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