An outbreak of the noxious seaweed caulerpa taxifolia at Green Point in Lake Macquarie is not planned to be treated, the NSW government says.
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The weed can smother seagrass beds and harm fish nurseries.
“Control treatment activities are not effective in previously infested areas,” the Department of Primary Industries said.
“Since this is a re-detection, there is no treatment planned.”
In 2001, the weed made international headlines when it was found to have choked thousands of hectares of Mediterranean seabed.
When the weed was found in Lake Macquarie in 2001, state funds were used to kill it with tonnes of salt.
Former Lake Macquarie catchment co-ordinator Jeff Jansson said the government should be treating the weed.
“It’s not a huge cost to put salt on it and it’s proven to be a fairly effective treatment,” Mr Jansson said.
“If you look at Lake Conjola, it’s covered with caulerpa taxifolia – it’s a mess.”
