A TAMWORTH councillor fears the outbreak of a household plant is devaluing land and killing stock.
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Cr Jim Maxwell said the spread of blue heliotrope around Manilla is posing a serious threat to the local agriculture sector.
"It's devaluing our grazing country,” he said.
"It's all around the town, it's very invasive. It's not declared a noxious weed, because it's a household plant that has got out.”
Cr Maxwell said a large mob of cattle died in Manilla recently because of the weed.
The extremely drought-hardy Blue heliotrope competes with desirable pasture plants and causes toxicity to stock, covering more than 110,000 hectares in NSW, according to the Department of Primary Industries.
It can kill cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and goats.
Cr Maxwell said education was key in tackling the spread of the weed.
"Maybe we could put out a pamphlet on it with the next rate notice,” he suggested.
"I think education will be a big part of it. I'm gravely concerned... it's a major threat to our agriculture sector.”
