Invasive Species/Knotweed

Knotweed was introduced from Asia as an ornamental plant, and is considered among the world’s most tenacious invasive plants. To learn how to identify Knotweed and how to eradicate it, please refer to the fact sheet under Local Resources.

Invasive species pose a threat to our environment, health, safety and economy. As a result, they are rapidly are gaining global recognition as a serious problem.

Local Resources

Sunshine Coast Regional District – Invasive Species

The SCRD’ Invasive Species web page is an excellent resource for Sunshine Coast residents who are seeking more information about local invasive species.

Information on this page includes:

a current list of priority invasive plants for the Sunshine Coast;
a list of which invasive species are and are not accepted at the local Green Waste Depots;
tips for getting professional help with the removal of invasive species; and
links to many other trusted resources, including an excellent fact sheet on Knotweed, and the Invasive Species Council of BC website.

To report invasive species sites on the Sunshine Coast go to: www.reportaweedbc.ca

Bylaw No. 1281, 2020

The Town is required to manage noxious weeds as a land manager under the BC Weed Control Act, and is given the power to enforce the BC Weed Control Act by creating bylaws under the Community Charter.

The Town of Gibsons’ Council is currently considering the introduction of a bylaw to regulate the effective management of invasive plants, particularly the Knotweed species.

The new bylaw would require control of the invasive plant within 30 days of being notified, or not less than 14 days if the weed is a risk to human safety or at a stage of growth that will cause significant spread (i.e. about to go to seed.)

In the event of non-compliance, the bylaw would give the Town the authority to commence and follow through with the treatment required to fully effect the complete control/removal at the owner’s expense.

After some discussion, this bylaw was put on hold due to a lack of effective disposal method for knotweed.

Staff is currently seeking an invasive species expert to address Council on a possible bylaw approach and next steps in the fight to eradicate these destructive plants.

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI)

MOTI is the Pest Management Plan (PMP) holder for Invasive Plant Management on public lands in the Sunshine Coast Regional District.

As invasive plant management will only be successful through continued collaboration among land managers, the Town of Gibsons aims to work in tandem with MOTI, wherever possible, to control invasive species.

Click here to view information from the Province of BC on Invasive Plants.