Broom - outside Howard - St Arnaud

(Cytisus scoparius)

Boundary Control Pest

Broom is a perennial shrub growing to 3.5 metres in height. It has sparse, green, trifoliate leaves, yellow pea-like flowers and conspicuous seed-pods. Seeds are dispersed by a ballistic mechanism and are viable for a long time. They are also dispersed via the distribution of gravel and in dirt stuck to machinery.

Reasons for the Strategy

The tall yellow flower stalks of Broom.

Broom is regarded as a serious production and environmental pest in the Tasman-Nelson region. Dense stands of Broom can shade out most species. It is very competitive in lightly grazed pastoral situations, forming thickets that obstruct grazing. Broom is invasive of plantation forests, establishing rapidly after forests have been harvested and out-competes naturally regenerating species. To many people’s perception, Broom degrades amenity values.

Broom is assessed at “7” on the infestation curve. Broom is widespread throughout the Tasman-Nelson region outside the Howard - St Arnaud area and the distribution of Broom has reached a level where the most cost-effective form of control is to require boundary control, and to invest in biocontrol. This will assist in protecting land that is clear, or being cleared of Broom, from invasion from adjacent land by Broom. Extensive areas of suitable habitat, and the potential for it to cause significant adverse effects, mean the benefits of boundary control far outweigh the costs.


To control the spread of Broom from adjacent properties to land that is clear, or being cleared of Broom, in the Tasman- Nelson region during the term of the Strategy.

Alternative Measures

The alternative option of “do nothing” or relying on voluntary control will not achieve the objective of the prevention of the spread of Broom to adjacent properties where there is no Broom, or where control is being carried out. Requiring a greater level of control, instead of just boundary control, is not appropriate given the widespread distribution of Broom, and that the occupier is the main beneficiary.

Strategy Rule for Broom

The occupier shall destroy all adult and juvenile forms of Broom located up to 10 metres from the boundary of the land that they occupy where the adjacent property is clear,
or being cleared of Broom. A breach of Strategy Rule 7.2.5 is an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Explanation of Strategy Rule

The Management Agency will limit its intervention to enforce compliance of the rule to occasions when a reasonable complaint is received from an adjoining land occupier. This would require the complainant’s land to be already clear, or being cleared of Broom, and that any invasion of the pest plant through the boundary has the potential to cause economic harm to the complainant’s land.

Biosecurity Act Requirement

No person shall knowingly sell, propagate, breed, release, or commercially display Broom, under Sections 52 and 53 of the Act.