Wildflower Pickers on WA's Bussell Highway Warned of Safety Risks

A popular stretch of Western Australian highway has become a picturesque drive, thanks to blooming everlasting flowers lining the median strip. However, authorities are warning motorists that stopping to pick the flowers poses a significant safety risk.

The Bussell Highway, which connects Bunbury and Busselton, about 200 kilometres south of Perth, has been revegetated with everlastings, chosen for their hardiness and ability to improve soil quality. Regional director Dominic Boyle urged people to leave the flowers alone, citing both the illegality of picking them and the danger it poses to the pickers themselves.

"We'd really discourage that behaviour," he said. "Not just because it's illegal to pick these flowers, but also they are putting themselves in danger."

Boyle noted that the decision to plant flowers rather than shrubs was unusual, but the response has been positive. However, reports of people stopping to gather blooms have alarmed the agency, with safety concerns and the need for seed to be returned to the soil being top priorities.

"There's a big safety concern. We also want to make sure that seed gets back into the soil," Mr Boyle said. "So we really encourage people just to keep themselves safe and to leave these flowers alone."

The City of Bunbury has also planted everlastings on its road reserves, and Deputy Mayor Cheryl Kozisek took a positive view of the reports of flower picking.

"I think it's a real compliment that people are picking them," she said. "I wouldn't encourage it immensely, but everlastings are beautiful — enjoy them."

However, the South West Wildflower Society's Kelly Paterson said that people illicitly picking wildflowers was an issue throughout the region.

"I've seen people sneakily picking flowers, and it's pretty clear that they know they are doing the wrong thing," she said. "It's a disappointing thing to see. Taking those flowers before they are able to set seed means that seed is not going into the seed bank to produce additional plants in the future."

Commercial flower seed supplier Jen Egerton-Warburton also spoke out against picking wildflowers, saying it was "kind of rude really, isn't it? Someone else has planted them, for you to go and pick them, so I don't think it's appropriate."

"I don't think it's appropriate to pick any wildflower in Western Australia that is not in your garden," she said. "If people want to pick wildflowers, grow them at home."

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions noted that Western Australia's native everlastings were protected, and that picking them without authority was an offence.

A spokesperson said that penalties could be significant, with fines of up to $50,000 for unlawfully taking native flora and up to $500,000 if critically endangered flora was involved.