BEATTIE GOVERNMENT PUTS PESTS ACROSS QLD UNDER THE GUN

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

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

Mr Wallace said pests such as wild pigs, wild dogs and weeds would be targeted.

“There is funding for bio-controls for weeds like prickly acacia, bellyache bush and cats claw creeper, 10 new wash-down facilities and satellite imaging to detect weeds,” Mr Wallace said.

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 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.

“We will fund projects to identify bio-controls for invasive weeds like prickly acacia, bellyache bush and cats claw creeper,” Mr Wallace said.

“And we’ll be developing high-tech approaches like satellite imaging to detect and monitor the distribution of weeds. These will complement on-ground works and measure progress on eradicating weed infestations.”

Mr Wallace said regional natural resource management group Desert Channels Queensland would receive more than $1.3 million for four weed-control projects, including funding to establish a community Weed Spotters network in the region for surveillance and early detection of new weed threats.

“We’re allocating more than $350,000 to the Capricorn Pest Management Group and Central Highlands Natural Resource Group, for control of woody weeds, including eradication of badhara bush, which poses a significant threat if it becomes established,” he said.

“Prevention is better than cure, so we’re supporting projects that prevent the spread of weeds. There will be 10 new wash-down facilities and six existing facilities will be upgraded.”

Mr Wallace said pest animals were also a major cause of environmental damage across regional Queensland, costing the State about $110 million a year in lost production and control costs alone.

“Two main offenders are wild dogs, which cost Queensland $33 million in stock losses, disease spread and control measures, and feral pigs, which devastate crops, land and livestock,” Mr Wallace said.

Mr Wallace said more than $2 million would go to projects targeting wild dogs and feral pigs.

“More than $750,000 of Pest Offensive funding has been allocated to projects that involve Indigenous communities in pest management.

“For example, Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council will receive almost $180,000 for work to control wild dogs, feral pigs and horses, as well as weeds such as rubber vine, parkinsonian, neem and hyptis,” Mr Wallace said.

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.”

A list of successful projects is below.

* continuing negotiation

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