Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287:reg:3:p56
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 56/276)
Character Range: 223448–226370

2024, pers comm 11 January) and on Phillip Island following the removal of rabbits. As native vegetation was cleared on Norfolk Island, African olive established as a major weed, and it is the main weed species found on Phillip Island. Plants occur as isolated individuals, scattered clumps or impenetrable thickets. African olive threatens species such as the Phillip Island hibiscus (Hibiscus insularis) (Director of National Parks 2008).
As with red guava, areas infested with African olive tend to have lower surface soil moisture (Davidson et al. 1994) and the impact of the weed is amplified during times of low rainfall, when competition for moisture is more intense. This can result in the mortality of native species such as the Norfolk Island pine (Parks Australia, unpublished data). Additionally, African olives likely exert an allelopathic effect on co-occurring species, inhibiting native plant germination and growth. The removal of African olive leads to demonstrable improvement in the survival and recruitment of emergent native species (Director of National Parks 2008), suggesting that it is possible to reduce the impact of this weed.
Despite being an invasive weed, African olive provides a year-round source of food for some species such as the Norfolk Island green parrot. It also helps mitigate soil loss and provides essential nesting sites for the threatened Kermadec petrel on Phillip Island.

Broad-leaf pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius)

Broad-leaf (or broad-leaved) pepper tree (also known locally on Norfolk Island as Hawaiian holly) is native to South America. It is known to invade grassy paddocks and is a pioneer species, quickly colonising disturbed sites. Broad-leaf pepper tree also invades undisturbed natural environments and can displace native species. It is a problem weed in some parts of eastern Australia, Hawaii, Florida, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tahiti and Mauritius (PIER 2002).
Broad-leaf pepper tree was introduced to Norfolk Island in the 1920s when a resident planted some berries collected in Hawaii (Ziesing 1997). It is a low growing evergreen tree that shades out other plants and prevents the re-establishment of other species due to the release of allelopathic substances (Dawkins and Esiobu 2016). The fruits have been implicated in bird intoxication and death and its prolific flowers can cause allergic reactions (Director of National Parks 2008).

Lantana (Lantana camara)

Lantana is listed as a Weed of National Significance in Australia and continues to have serious impacts. It is an aggressive woody weed of open areas and suppresses regeneration of native species through blocking light and allelopathy (Director of National Parks 2008). Lantana was introduced to Norfolk Island in 1905 as an ornamental horticultural species and is now widespread probably due to birds dispersing the seeds. It is found on Phillip Island in low abundance but could be