Melbourne Airport – Vegetation Management Program 2023

A trial to reduce the requirement for mowing in the IVM treated areas and to reduce bird activity and mitigate wildlife risk commenced with an IVM treatment application in July 2019, followed by a second treatment in October 2019. Monitoring of the trial site undertaken in November 2019 showed the treatments had provided excellent control of wildlife-attracting broadleaf weeds. However, the trial was not able to be completed due to the lockdowns that occurred during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the observations made during the early stages of the trial, and the successful outcomes of similar IVM Programs at other airports in Australia, The IVM Group was engaged by Melbourne Airport during 2022-2023 to undertake research and field work as the basis for the development of an IVM Program for the management of mown vegetation adjacent to both runways at Melbourne Airport.

Upon completion of this research, and discussions of the findings and recommendations coming out of this project, it has been decided to go ahead with the implementation of an IVM Program at Melbourne Airport during 2023-2024.

The objectives of this project are to:
• Reduce the activity of birds in the grassed areas surrounding the two runways at Melbourne Airport.
• Reduce the frequency of mowing/slashing (including pick-up mowing) required in the IVM Program areas.
• Reduce the requirement for post-mowing wildlife harassment in the IVM Program areas; and
• Reduce vegetation biomass and post-mowing debris in the IVM Program areas (i.e., reduce the risk of FOD).