New South Wales’ statewide action weed program aims to protect farming lands from high-risk weeds which cause agricultural damage
The NSW government is delivering its Weeds Action Program, guaranteeing four years of funding to 97 local councils to combat the impact of priority weeds.
The program supports targeted surveillance and rapid biosecurity responses, and is building a robust statewide network to prevent, eradicate and contain priority weeds which can impact farming productivity.
A range of actions will be taken to ensure this, including preventing Parthenium Weed entering NSW, preventing spread with the aim of eradicating Parkinsonia and Tropical Soda Apple weeds, working with landholders to contain alligator weed, frogbit, Hudson pear, Harrisia cactus and sticky nightshade, and instigating surveillance and rapid response resources to detect new high-risk weeds early and act quickly to stop their spread.
The NSW government says these high-risk weed species pose serious health risks to livestock, wildlife and people, requiring urgent action to stop them from becoming more widely established.
“The Weeds Action Program’s four-year grant model provides certainty in budgeting, giving local councils and other control authorities the ability to put boots on the ground, retain staff and train new weed biosecurity officers across NSW,” NSW agricultural minister Tara Moriarty says.
“This network of biosecurity officers sustains the surveillance, eradication and containment efforts on key high-risk weeds, including parthenium weed, alligator weed and frogbit to protect our valuable farming lands.”
