Farmers commended for management of declared plants

6/1/03
The State's farmers and landholders have been commended for their high level of commitment to managing declared plants on their properties.
Agriculture Minister Kim Chance said there had been a 90 per cent compliance rate with notices issued under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 during the 2001-2002 financial year.
Of the 11,000 landholders who were reminded by mail of their obligation to control infestations of declared plants on their land, more than 90 per cent complied.

"Since 1999, the Agriculture Protection Board and the Department of Agriculture have adopted a strengthened compliance approach to declared weed management," Mr Chance said.
"All landholders with known infestations of declared plants on their property are notified annually as to what they are required to do to meet regulatory obligations.
'All non-compliant landholders are audited, work notices are issued and, where not completed satisfactorily, costs can be recouped from the landholder."
During the year to July, a direction notice under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act was issued in 120 cases, where initial negotiations failed to achieve compliance.
In only six cases, it was necessary for officers to arrange for work to be done and recoup the costs from landholders.
In one instance, it cost a landholder in the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes more than $5,000 for the control of blackberry, and another in the Shire of Dardanup nearly $1,500 for the control of Apple of Sodom.
Mr Chance said there was strong community support for the department to continue a concerted effort to enforce declared plant regulations.
"Western Australia has less than half the weed species that exist in other parts of Australia," he said.
"As a result, it has significant productivity and environmental benefits and also enjoys the market advantages of having a reputation of as a quality provider of clean, green produce.
"Effective biosecurity, including weed management is the best way to protect that reputation."
The penalties available under the Act include $300 for a first offence and $1,500 for each subsequent offence of failure to comply with a direction to control declared weeds.
Private landholders are also required to repay the cost of weed control carried out by the department or contractors where they have failed to comply with a direction.
Minister's office: 9213 6700