White lillies, water cress and other popular species have spread from backyards into the river corridors and are now classified as weeds.

A brochure detailing the pests will be produced with a $1972 grant from Warrnambool City Council’s community environment support fund.

The publication will be co-ordinated by the Mad for the Merri group which is part of the Basalt to Bay landcare network.

Network president Karen Wales told The Standard the information would be fed to householders along the river who would be encouraged to replace the weeds with non-invasive native plants.

“There are commonplace nursery plants among the invasive pest species, mainly woody weeds,” she said.

“We want to target these and say to people, let’s plant natives to the area which are non-invasive.”

The network also received $2000 a year for three years to update a booklet on local reserves and wetlands, last printed 20 years ago.

“The booklet will be revamped with new photographs and information,” she said.

Another $1350 was allocated to the network for community information events on plant propagation and pollination of native plants.

Warrnambool Environ-mental Action Group received $2000 for a project to encourage takeaway food shop proprietors to use biodegradable compostable takeaway food containers.

Friends of Swan Reserve won $2000 a year for three years to take the next steps in rejuvenating the area.

The latest grant follows a $2772 allocation a month earlier from the council’s community development fund for construction and installation of three picnic tables at the reserve with labour from the Men’s Shed group.

Warrnambool Community Garden group was given $2000 annually for three years from the environment fund to produce an annual green guide publication.

Tozer Reserve committee was given $2000 annually for three years to employ a facilitator to develop a schools curriculum for its community environmental education centre.

Tarerer Gunditj Project Association received $2000 annually for three years for a walk and talk on the coast project using traditional ecological knowledge.