NORTH WEST AND GULF PESTS UNDER THE GUN

Pest animals and weeds across the North West will be targeted with new control management projects under the State Government’s historic $11 million Reclaim the Bush: A Pest Offensive program.

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace and Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan today announced the successful projects under the program, which is a major element of the government’s Blueprint for the Bush initiative.

Mrs Kiernan said Desert Channels Queensland would receive $1.36 million for several projects, including a ground mesquite project in the Gulf Desert Channels region and expanding their Weed Spotter’s Network.

QueenslandParks and Wildlife Service would receive $88,100 to control feral pigs and $100,500 to control wild dogs in and around Central Western Queensland.

Southern Gulf Catchments Ltd would receive $489,300 for a range of pest management initiatives, including $48,000 to fight prickly acacia and parkinsonia strategic control in the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria and $51,000 for bellyache bush and parthenium weed containment and eradication.

McKinlay Shire Council will receive $640,000 for a multi-council pest animal project on the Northern Mitchell Grass Downs.

Mr Wallace said weeds were a significant threat to Queensland, costing the state an estimated $600 million a year in lost production and control costs.

“Last year, my department called for applications for funding under the Pest Offensive,” Mr Wallace said

“We encouraged projects that demonstrated partnerships with local government, regional natural resource management groups and Indigenous communities and we gave preferences to collaborations that aligned pest management and natural resource management plans.

Across Queensland, more than $4.3 million will be provided to eight of Queensland’s community-based regional natural resource management groups to fight pests and weeds, 20 local government projects will receive more than $3.7 million and three Aboriginal shire councils will share almost $550,000.

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

Mr Wallace praised the quality of the applications.

“We received 89 applications and were able to fund 47 projects from 31 proponents,” he said.

“The lion’s share of the funding will go to local governments and regional natural resource management groups around the state, but industry and state agencies will also receive significant funding.

“I would like to thank all applicants for the high quality of the applications and I’d particularly like to congratulate the 31 applicants whose 47 projects have been successful.”

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