NEW ENGLAND WEEDS AUTHORITY CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

Established by proclamation on the 7th of May 1947, the New England Tablelands Noxious Plants County Council was one of the first single purpose County Councils to be a Local Control Authority for the control of priority and invasive weeds. Legislation has been amended and updated over the past 75 years, with inspection and control of invasive weeds now in accordance with the Biosecurity Act, 2015.
 
The founding constituent councils were Dumaresq, Gostwyck and Guyra Shires. In 1955, Armidale City Council joined the County, followed by Walcha Shire Council in 1971 and more recently, Glen Innes Severn Shire Council in 2021.
 
The New England County Council, as it is now known, trades under the name of New England Weeds Authority (NEWA). NEWA covers an area in excess of 2.3 million hectares – this includes diverse, unique and important ecosystems, agricultural land and urban areas.