26 November 2007

WEED MANAGEMENT MONEY STILL NEEDED: HALL

Eastern Victoria MP Peter Hall is pushing the State Government to renew funding for a weed education officer in the Wellington Shire.

Mr Hall raised the issue in Parliament this week, concerned because funding for the position ended in June this year.

Mr Hall believes that with the recent floods and other factors, weed control is still a major issue for Wellington Shire and other parts of Gippsland and more, not less, should be done.

The Nationals’ Energy and Resources spokesman said the issue had been raised by the Maffra and Districts Landcare Network, which expressed concern at the loss of state government funding through the Tackling Weeds on Private Land initiative, a local government weed management grants program.

“As I understand from the letter received from the Landcare network, Wellington shire received funding for this particular position, a part-time weed education officer within the shire, but it expired in June 2007,” Mr Hall said.

“The loss of the funding has placed pressure on Wellington shire and our local Landcare networks to provide this ongoing services. The Wellington shire has been prepared to contribute $35,000 towards pests, plant and animal control projects in their local area each year (and) the Landcare network has made a request of me to at least see some matching funding provided by the state government.”

Some of the activities undertaken as part of the funded program over the last two years included;

• Coordinating and improving the Weeds For Trees Program, a program which offers free herbicide to control weeds on shire roadsides and revegetation with native trees.

• Liaison with local nurseries regarding responsible plant selection and raising their awareness of plants prohibited for sale.

• In partnership with Latrobe City and East Gippsland Shire, producing the Grow Me Instead Booklets which provides information on common garden escapees and non-invasive alternatives for gardens.

• Initiating a Weed Mapping system and the purchase of new equipment that will allow the community and Shire staff to collect information on roadside weeds.

• Providing advice to Landcare Groups and members and the general community about weed identification and control by attending Landcare meetings, participating in field days and attending to enquiries; and

• Discussion with Shire on ground works leaders about Best Practice Weed Management and responsibilities of contractors.

Mr Hall said: “Suffice to say that throughout Wellington shire, like many other rural shires, the issue of weeds is a very important one. In view of the fact that weeds are an important issue, particularly in a large rural shire like Wellington which has experienced floods in the last 12 months, which exacerbates the spread of weed problems, I think it is a more than reasonable request that the state government again contribute to funding an education officer.”

Mr Hall said he would continue to pursue the matter with the State Government.

Media contact:                  Peter Hall      (03) 5174 7066   or 0427 747 066