Helloo again.
This post has info for BeatrixKiddo, though might be useful for other people.
The info on Lilly Pilly that I came across was in the Shire's Weed Management Plan and their Tree Management Strategy.
The Weed Management Plan states that Lilly Pilly is a potential threat and that it should be considered for inclusion in the Shire weed list.
The Tree Management Strategy lists Lilly Pilly as a woody weed and states that these are tree species which are so successful at growing in a certain region, that their benefits are outweighed by the competition that they provide to more desirable species in the area. Weeds are defined as those plants which are growing in the wrong place (that old adage!) and that woody weed species, including those that are native, will be removed.
I think I mentioned before that Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum) is also on the Shire of Yarra Ranges (SYR) weed list and this is listed as a very serious threat. The list states that it is already declared noxious in NSW and WA, though I don't know if that is still the case. It's also marked as a high priority because it's an establised weed in SYR and the weed working group committee have also raised it as a threat.
These are not restricted from sale at this point in time, nor are they declared noxious weeds, so you are not required to remove them. I guess that if you live in SYR you may wish to consider alternatives to these plants, so that you are not adding to an existing problem.
We did want to use Lilly Pilly as a hedge out front, to block our view of the houses on the lower side of the street. This way, our already good view would be fantastic as it would seem like there were no other houses near us. Unfortunately, we'll need to weigh our desire for a fast growing, dense, beautiful screening plant against our desire to 'do the right thing'.
We have the revegatation list for this area, but it's a bit of a tricky spot as it's full sun to dappled shade, north facing and open so gets those furnace like winds. We might try some Victorian Christmas (Mint) Bush (As recommended by Redman) as it is fast growing and can get to 10m, plus it's okay being pruned. We'd need to mulch it in well as it doesn't like to dry out, but I'm happy to use water on it if it does the job!
Maybe some Golden-tip (Goodia lotifolia), which grows fast and gets lots of flowers, and is bird attracting...?
Plus some Dusty daisy bush (Olearia phlogopappa) and Ozothamnus ferrugineus (Tree everlasting) in the nature strip I think, to fill the empty space once the Agapanthus come out.
What about Bursaria spinosa (Sweet Bursaria)? Does this grow fairly fast?