RECORD FUNDING BOOST TO SUPPORT STATE’S WAR ON WEEDS

RECORD FUNDING BOOST TO SUPPORT STATE’S WAR ON WEEDS

Minister for Agriculture and Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall with Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Senior Field Officer Guy Walker inspecting a paddock near Armidale.

 

Wednesday, 27 October 2021

 

MINISTER for Agriculture and Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall today announced a record $24.2 million funding boost for the war on weeds, which will see cutting-edge technologies, including environmental DNA (eDNA) testing, used by farmers to manage the state’s worst weeds.

 

Mr Marshall said the investment would modernise the state’s biosecurity systems and give farmers, local councils and weeds authority’s the resources they needed to stop weed infestations in their tracks.

 

“Today, we are investing a record amount of funding and putting smart technologies in place which will tackle weeds brought on post-drought, bushfires and floods,” Mr Marshall said.

 

“Heading into spring, conditions present a high risk of new weeds and the increased growth of established weeds, so this $24.2 million boost comes at a crucial time.

 

“We will use detector dogs, eDNA testing to trace water weeds, and Climatch modelling which predicts areas most at risk to priority invasive species to tackle the weeds which cost $1.8 billion each year in control measures and lost production.

 

“The successful NSW Weeds Action Program has been funded to support 11 regional sub-programs and target weeds by focusing on coordinated planning across the state, new incursion responses and biological control.”

 

Between 2015 and 2020, a $166 million investment helped the NSW Government, councils, communities, farmers and other land managers successfully target weeds.

 

“High risk weeds such as parthenium and tropical soda apple continue to put pressure on agriculture, with established weeds such as African lovegrass and serrated tussock being targeted through our weed management programs,” Mr Marshall said.

 

“We will increase awareness, management and surveillance, largely through face-to-face support from local councils who provide farmers and other land managers with expert advice, weed identification and management options during property visits.”

 

The new priority projects and NSW Weeds Action Program are key initiatives for the NSW Government’s NSW Invasive Species Plan, which aims to reduce the devastating impacts of weeds on agricultural production and the environment.

 

More information is available on the NSW Department Primary Industries website https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds/strategy. Weed management advice is available from weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au or by downloading the NSW WeedWise app.

Recent Articles

UNIVERSITY LIGHTS UP WITH $425,000 BOOST FOR BELLEVUE OVAL

13th May 2024

Photo caption: Celebrating news of a $425,000 State Government grant for SportUNE to install new lighting at Bellevue Oval,... Read More

NEW-LOOK BITUMEN SEALED HORTON ROAD OFFICIALLY OPENED

13th May 2024

Photo caption: Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, left, and Gwydir Shire Mayor John Coulton officially opening the Horton Road... Read More

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO SAVE HISTORIC ROCKY RIVER PUBLIC SCHOOL

10th May 2024

Thursday, 9 May 2024 NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall is calling on the State Government to take urgent action to... Read More