The assertion credited to Cr Ian North that the Upper Macquarie County Council (UMCC) is "the number one weeds authority in the state" will stir the ire of many members of the local rural community.

Anecdotally, the evidence is clear: weeds continue to proliferate along roadsides and other lands under UMCC authority.

Heliotrope, St John's Wort, Serrated Tussock and the like continue to expand their invasion of our local area.

Now we are seeing newer problematic species like Cobbler's Peg, Feathertop Rhodes Grass and Chilean Needle added to the mix.

All these weeds are invading local holdings from the roadsides for which the UMCC is responsible.

In many cases, it is the UMCC member local council equipment that introduces and spreads these weeds.

On private holdings, the purple and yellow vista of Heliotrope and St John's Wort is evident right across the UMCC region.

Serrated Tussock is prolific.

Yet the question must be posed, how many weed control orders has the UMCC issued, and how many of those orders have continued to court in the four years of the chairmanship of which Cr North is so proud?

The question of greatest import is on what basis is the UMCC the number one weeds authority in NSW?

As a paid representative of the UMCC at the beginning of Cr North's representation, I acknowledge its many failings then.

Let's not kid ourselves. Those failings remain abundantly clear.