South-West weed control given $400,000 boost

13/1/05
Control of serious declared weeds in the South-West will be strengthened with the State Government allocating an additional $400,000 to tackle the problem.
The new funding, additional to the $1.03million already allocated for weed control in 2004-05, will go towards a program run by the Departments of Agriculture and Conservation and Land Management.
Agriculture Minister Kim Chance and Environment Minister Judy Edwards today announced that the program would include weed control on Government-managed land including waterways, national parks and reserve areas.
Targeted control and removal programs organised by the Departments of Agriculture and Conservation and Land Management will focus on:

• the containment of new incursions;
• weed management on a good neighbour basis; and
• the management of weeds identified for their impact on specific environmental or agricultural values.

"Two weeds listed for control include blackberry on the Blackwood River, the Harvey River and Preston River; and early season arum lily in sensitive environmental areas of the Shires of Busselton and Augusta-Margaret River," Mr Chance said.
"Cotton Bush, Watsonia and Paterson's Curse are also problem weeds in this region.
"High priority weed control programs will be developed by the Departments of Agriculture and Conservation and Land Management, in consultation with local government authorities, zone control authorities, the Western Australian Weed Committee (WAWC), weed action groups and landholders in these areas.
"These groups will have the opportunity to comment to the agencies on weed control and research priorities throughout the South-West."
Dr Edwards said the WAWC would have access to up to $50,000 of the new funding to help with its implementation of the State Weed Plan.
"The ongoing control of declared weeds is important to ensure the future of the State's native forests, reserves and ecosystems," she said.
"Weeds have a major detrimental impact on the diversity of plants and animals in conservation reserves and other public lands, dominating native plants and destroying natural habitats.
"Competition and habitat change by weeds is recognised as a major threatening process in a range of threatened flora and fauna species and also for threatened ecological communities.
"The additional funding of $400,000 will be used to expand the current program to control the blackberry, which is a weed of national significance. Dense thickets of this weed provide cover for animal pests such as foxes and rabbits to breed.
"The program will be implemented by CALM, with a focus on waterways, forest and property boundary areas. We also want to continue an existing program to remove wild pine in the South-West."
Agriculture Minister's office: - 9213 6700
Environment Minister's office: 9220 5050