Sandy Bay Crack Willow Weed Removal Project

Restoring our rivulets and reducing flood risks

The City of Hobart has started work on an ambitious three-year project to rid Hobart's rivulets and catchments of the highly invasive environmental weed crack willow (Salix fragils).

The $1.1 million project is equally funded by the City of Hobart and the Australian Government through the Disaster Ready Fund. It is administered by the Tasmanian Government Department of Premier and Cabinet.

We have made great progress removing crack willows from the Hobart Rivulet, and are moving into phase two of the project, removing these weedy trees from the Sandy Bay Rivulet.

Why is this project important?

Crack willows are environmentally harmful and pose a real risk to Hobart’s stormwater infrastructure.

This project aims to:

1. Rewild our rivulets by removing environmentally destructive crack willows and replacing them with native habitat.

2. Reduce the risk of fallen willow branches blocking critical stormwater channels and increasing the risk of flood damage to residents and businesses.

Crack willows growing on private and public land along the Sandy Bay Rivulet choke the waterway, forming impenetrable thickets that can lead to flooding and bank erosion, increasing the risks to people, homes, businesses and infrastructure during major flood events.

They are also a highly invasive environmental weed. Their roots spread throughout waterways, pushing out native trees and shrubs, reducing oxygen available for fish and other aquatic wildlife, and making it hard for platypus to forage for food and create burrows.

What you can do to help

Unlike the Hobart Rivulet most of the crack willows marked for removal along the Sandy Bay Rivulet are on private property – in total 319 crack willows have been mapped for removal.

To remove many of the crack willows contractors will need to access private land.

The terrain is also steep and challenging, and parts of the Sandy Bay Rivulet Track will need to be closed temporarily to allow for safe work operations.

You can help by working with the City of Hobart and our contractors to safely remove crack willows from your property.

You can also help by letting us know which tree species you would like planted on your property to replace the willow trees we are removing.

You are entitled to minimum of two and up to five free trees for every willow tree removed from your property.

This project will reduce the risk and harm from major flood events to people, nature, built infrastructure and businesses near the Sandy Bay Rivulet. It will also lead to a more resilient Sandy Bay and Dynnyrne community, better prepared for and protected from major flood events.

Project progress and delay

The second stage of the Sandy Bay Rivulet operation, which was initially scheduled to be underway at this time, has experienced a delay.

This delay is due to the identification of critical water infrastructure in the upper project area that may be at risk of damage from machinery. To address this issue, we are currently collaborating with TasWater to determine the necessary restrictions and precautions before proceeding with further works.

Revised Timeframe

We are committed to undertaking the works in this area, we will be able to establish a timeframe for these works when we have finalised details with TasWater and established removal mechanisms with contractors. We will continue to update this website with information as it is available.

If required, we may be in touch with individual property owners to discuss options.

Revegetation and replacement trees

As originally planned, revegetation activities will take place following the completion of removal works.

We will either plant the replacement trees you requested through our engagement process or assist you in planting them if needed. If you did not specify your preferences for replacement trees, suitable species will be selected on your behalf.

For updates on this project, follow the City on Facebook and Instagram. Project updates will also be posted to the City of Hobart website.

Sandy Bay Rivulet Resident Form

Please complete the online registration form to assist in the removal of crack willow/s from your property. Additionally, through the form, please share any feedback or concerns you have about the project, and select the free trees or plants you would like to replace the willows.