Published Tuesday, 24 July, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
DPI&F DELIVERS DOLLARS FOR LOCAL PEST OFFENSIVE
Work targeting critical pest management issues is set to roll out across the state, with Biosecurity Queensland announcing the first instalments in the $11 million Pest Offensive have now been delivered.
“The Pest Offensive program is part of the State Government’s Blueprint for the Bush, a 10-year plan to build a sustainable, liveable and prosperous rural Queensland,’’ Minister Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
“The State Government, in collaboration with local government, industry and regional natural resources management bodies, is addressing three critical areas of pest management.
“Biosecurity Queensland has distributed over $2 million in Pest Offensive funding to a variety of groups for projects to prevent and eradicate new pests, reduce widespread pest impacts and develop innovative solutions for weed and pest animal control, and these groups now have the funding in their hands,” he said.
Mr Mulherin said the Pest Offensive program specifically targeted strategic new weed incursions, such as coral and snake cactus, to prevent them becoming major weeds in Queensland.
“Woody weeds are a significant burden to production systems for many landholders in the bush and the Pest Offensive program is targeting woody weeds to prevent them increasing their current home range,” Mr Mulherin said.
“It is estimated that woody weeds like rubber vine and prickly acacia cost the Queensland grazing industry up to $9 million respectively each year.
“Over $1.2 million of funds have been distributed for projects to tackle weed species such as prickly acacia, mesquite, rubbervine, pond apple, coral cactus and snake cactus in Queensland.’’
Mr Mulherin said prevention was the key to managing weeds, an approach supported through a Local Government Association of Queensland economic report, highlighting that a $1 investment in prevention and eradication control can lead to returns of up to $38 and $26 respectively.
“Over $400, 000 dollars has been distributed for the improvement of existing clean down facilities and building new facilities to prevent the spread of weed seeds in Queensland,” he said.
Mr Mulherin said, pest animals can devastate crops, land and livestock.
“Over $140,000 has been distributed to help improve wild dog and feral pig coordination programs and reduce their impacts to people in the bush.”
Media: 32396530
“The Pest Offensive program is part of the State Government’s Blueprint for the Bush, a 10-year plan to build a sustainable, liveable and prosperous rural Queensland,’’ Minister Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
“The State Government, in collaboration with local government, industry and regional natural resources management bodies, is addressing three critical areas of pest management.
“Biosecurity Queensland has distributed over $2 million in Pest Offensive funding to a variety of groups for projects to prevent and eradicate new pests, reduce widespread pest impacts and develop innovative solutions for weed and pest animal control, and these groups now have the funding in their hands,” he said.
Mr Mulherin said the Pest Offensive program specifically targeted strategic new weed incursions, such as coral and snake cactus, to prevent them becoming major weeds in Queensland.
“Woody weeds are a significant burden to production systems for many landholders in the bush and the Pest Offensive program is targeting woody weeds to prevent them increasing their current home range,” Mr Mulherin said.
“It is estimated that woody weeds like rubber vine and prickly acacia cost the Queensland grazing industry up to $9 million respectively each year.
“Over $1.2 million of funds have been distributed for projects to tackle weed species such as prickly acacia, mesquite, rubbervine, pond apple, coral cactus and snake cactus in Queensland.’’
Mr Mulherin said prevention was the key to managing weeds, an approach supported through a Local Government Association of Queensland economic report, highlighting that a $1 investment in prevention and eradication control can lead to returns of up to $38 and $26 respectively.
“Over $400, 000 dollars has been distributed for the improvement of existing clean down facilities and building new facilities to prevent the spread of weed seeds in Queensland,” he said.
Mr Mulherin said, pest animals can devastate crops, land and livestock.
“Over $140,000 has been distributed to help improve wild dog and feral pig coordination programs and reduce their impacts to people in the bush.”
Media: 32396530