Lantana goes on trial

Scientific trials will be conducted at sites across Queensland and New South Wales to identify the most appropriate ways to manage lantana, Natural Resources Minister Craig Wallace said today.

Lantana, a woody weed, poses serious problems for landholders because it is invasive, spreads easily and has severe environmental and financial impacts.

Mr Wallace said the trials would help land managers identify the best sequences of control methods for lantana according to geography, climate and soil conditions.

The trials are being conducted at Yarraman in South East Queensland, Clairview, near Mackay, Elphinstone Creek in Far North Queensland, Sheep Station Creek and BouldersBeach in Northern NSW, Berry in Southern NSW and Grafton on the North Coast of NSW.

“The results of the trials over a number of seasons will provide a helpful decision-support tool for land managers to better understand how to battle lantana,” Mr Wallace said.

“Results so far show that costs can be kept down by managing lantana through integrated sequences of on-ground actions ranging from fire, mechanical and chemical control to hand control techniques.

“Integrated control will always provide a better outcome than just using single ad-hoc approaches. Our objective is to help landholders get the right order of control options so they can better manage lantana infestations.

“For example, significant cost advantages can be achieved by mechanically removing or burning lantana plants before beginning a chemical treatment.”

Mr Wallace said next season the Department would be implementing follow-up options to completely eradicate lantana at the trial sites and collect enough information to outline a typical decision process that land managers can work through and apply to their own situations.

National lantana coordinator Andrew Clark said the project was just one way that the Weeds of National Significance program was identifying better solutions to manage weeds and ways to map and target infestations.

“Some of those solutions require linking active control programs with the seasonal damage provided by biological control or natural occurrences such as bush fires,” Mr Clark said.

“Ultimately the objective is to share information to reduce the costs of mistakes or wasted efforts by land managers.

“But by improving relevant information, landholders are likely to continue controlling lantana, knowing that their efforts reflect best management practices.”

Lantana costs Australians $22 million each year in lost agricultural production and control costs and significantly reduces the biodiversity of conservation areas.

A free booklet about lantana control recently published by the Department has been in high demand among landholders and local governments.

The booklet Using herbicides on lantana is helping landholders aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of controlling of lantana.

The booklet is the first of its kind, combining industry information and scientific knowledge to improve how herbicides are used. It also enables landholders to predict costs of control actions they may undertake.

A free copy of the booklet can be obtained by contacting (07) 3406 2511.

Media contact: Paul Childs 0407 131 654 or paul.childs@ministerial.qld.gov.au