PESTS ACROSS CENTRAL QUEENSLAND UNDER THE GUN

Central Queensland pest animals and weeds are in the firing line following the approval of four projects worth almost $650,000 under an historic Queensland Government pest program.

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace and Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt today announced successful projects under the Queensland Government’s $11 million Reclaim the Bush: A Pest Offensive, part of the government’s Blueprint for the Bush initiative.

Recipients and their partner organisations will contribute a further $17.9 million in cash and in-kind support, taking the Pest Offensive’s total to almost $28.2 million.

MackayWhitsunday Natural Resource Management Group will receive more than $200,000 to fight weeds, Emerald Shire Council will receive more than $90,000 while Capricorn Pest Management Group and Central Highlands Natural Resource Management Group will share more than $350,000.

Mr Wallace said pest animals and invasive weeds were a significant threat to Queensland, costing the state more than $700 million a year in lost production and control costs.

Jan Jarratt said Mackay Whitsunday NRM’s project would target Queensland’s only known infestation of Mimosa pigra, a Weed of National Significance.

“The proponents will also contribute about half a million dollars of their own funds to eradicate the weed from Queensland,” she said.

Mr Wallace said Emerald Shire Council would receive more than $90,000 to upgrade its weed wash-down facilities, while the Capricorn Pest Management Group would receive funding to eradicate badhara bush, which poses a significant threat to Queensland.

“We have the opportunity to eradicate this weed from Queensland before it spreads further,” Mr Wallace said.

“We’ll also be funding the Central Highlands Natural Resource Management Group to target rubber vine and parkinsonia, two significant woody weeds in the FitzroyBasin.

“I would like to congratulate these groups on the high quality of their proposals. The work they are doing is vitally important.”

A list of successful projects in central Queensland is below.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.