PESTS AND WEEDS ACROSS NORTH QUEENSLAND UNDER THE GUN

North Queensland pest animals and weeds are in the firing line following the approval of 16 projects worth more than $3.6 million under an historic Queensland Government pest program.

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace, Member for Cook Jason O’Brien, Member for Mulgrave Warren Pitt and Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin 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.

Four North Queensland regional natural resource management (NRM) groups will share more than $1.7 million, North Queensland local councils will receive more than $1.4 million and three Aboriginal shire councils will share almost $550,000.

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.

“Southern Gulf Catchments will receive almost half a million dollars for four projects to combat significant weed threats,” Mr Wallace said.

“The organisation will be targeting woody weeds like athel pine, prickly acacia, parkinsonia and rubber vine, as well as locating and containing the relative small populations of bellyache bush and parthenium before they can get out of hand. Carpentaria Shire Council will receive $200,000 to address similar threats.”

“Regional group FNQ NRM Ltd will receive almost $530,000 for wash-down facilities and the eradication of the woody weed pond apple,” he said.

Mr Wallace said Townsville City Council would receive more than $570,000 on behalf of a number of North Queensland councils to help with feral pig and wild dog management and to build a wash down facility.

“In addition, Burdekin Shire Council will receive more than $430,000 to combat a prickly acacia infestation that covers about 1500 hectares across two properties,” Mr Wallace said.

“We are also providing more than $225,000 to Torres Shire Council to build a wash-down facility and assist in weed and pest animal management.

“The wash down facility is highly strategic project and provides a vital defence against weed seeds being transported to Torres StraitIslands from the mainland and from Papua New Guinea to our shores.”

Mr Wallace said three Aboriginal Shire Councils, Pormpuraaw, Mapoon and PalmIsland, would share almost $550,000.

“The funds will assist Aboriginal communities to manage weeds and pest animals that affect natural and cultural resources in these areas,” Mr Wallace said.

“The Pormpuraaw and Mapoon projects will target feral animals and weeds.

“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 North Queensland is below.

* continuing negotiations

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