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Reducing Impacts of High Priority Weeds in Cape York

by Lyndal Scobell and Vicki Wundersitz

Cape York NRM’s project under the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative Program has commenced.

Reducing the Economic and Environmental Impacts of High Priority Weeds in the Cape York Region, funded through the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative, will address priority weed management in areas where weeds are having significant economic and/or environmental impact.

The project will roll out across the south-east of Cape York in Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal and Cook local government regions.

It delivers priority feral pest and weed management activities as detailed in the (DRAFT) Cape York Peninsula Regional Biosecurity Strategy 2016-2021, and will be guided by a project steering committee.

Cape York NRM’s Chairperson and Primary Industries Sector Director, Emma Jackson, said that the project provides some fantastic opportunities for land managers, and will achieve some key outcomes for controlling problem weeds.

“The coordination of on-ground works, weed control planning and training will be through community organisations including Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Inc. and on-ground components will be delivered through working together with Jabalbina Yalanji Rangers, grazing and horticultural land managers, Landcare and other community organisations.

The project will draw on expert knowledge from the Northern Australia Quarantine Services, and the Tropical Weeds Research Centre to integrate best management practice into the project.

Techniques are selective and will target specific weeds, and biodegradable chemicals - no residual chemicals are used.

“The project provides opportunities to build skills in weed control, plus increase landholder knowledge when property planning for pests and weeds management” Emma said.

Eric Dick will look after the project for Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Inc.

“This project provides some practical contributions for a coordinated approach to biosecurity management on Cape York” Eric said.

“Landholders are constantly doing more with less - the goodwill to control weeds is there, but they frequently don’t have the resources to do the work - and this project will help to change that.

“A key outcome for landholders is they can stop emerging weeds in their tracks, before the weeds become established in the region” he said.

The project runs over two years, and will wind up in May 2019.

For more information, contact Cape York NRM on 1300 132 262.

The Queensland Feral Pest Initiative has received funding through the Queensland Government’s Rural Assistance Package.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

Property Weed Management

Working with landholders to map declared and other invasive weed species, and develop a property management plan and implement best practice processes.

Accredited Training

Agricultural Chemical Distribution Control (ACDC) training to certificate level for landholders and land managers, and provide them with ongoing on-ground technical support and mentoring.

Pond Apple Control

Resourcing will extend the surveying, removal and impact reduction of Pond Apple from swampy areas and wetlands in priority locations between Wujal Wujal and Hope Vale (south eastern coastal areas of Cape York). Delivery with CYWAFAI and Jabalbina Rangers. Builds on work since 1993 in Cooktown foreshore.

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