Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson has announced the full list of NSW projects for ongoing noxious weed control, worth more than $11 million.
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The NSW Government is set to fund these projects in the 2013-14 financial year.
Out of this $11 million up to $190,000 will go to the Southern Slopes Noxious Plants Authority, who look after Young, Harden, Boorowa and Yass areas.
Southern Slopes Noxious Plants Authority general manager Damian Minehan said the money will be split four ways with $47,500 covering Young.
He also said each of the councils in the area the authority manages will be contributing $60,000.
“And of that $11 million there will also be money put aside for emergency weed outbreaks [in NSW].” Mr Minehan said.
Ms Hodgkinson revealed that close to 200,000 kilometres of weed pathways - covering an area of 800,000 hectares - has been inspected for new invasive weeds as part of the NSW Government’s Weed Action Program.
“The NSW Government is investing more into weed management than ever before, up from the $10.8 million allocated last financial year,” she said.
Thirteen Weed Management Authorities will share in $8.5 million in funding to carry out weed management, while the Department of Primary Industries and other partners will lead a range of state-wide projects totalling more than $1.5 million.
The Weeds Action Program has also developed and implemented early detection capabilities, inspecting more than 60,000 suspected new weed incursions and identifying more than 6000 high-priority sites for the management of widespread weeds.
Agronomist Paul Parker said there are several classifications of weeds found in the district with the most common of noxious weeds being St John’s Wort.
He said it was disappointing the government doesn’t invest more care in controlling their own weeds on crown land.
“The government does very little in controlling their own noxious weeds around rail lines, major roads and national parks,” he said.
“They create a nursery for other weeds to spread to other properties.”
The NSW government is currently conducting a weeds review to determine whether noxious weed control will stay with local governments or move to Local Land Services in January 2014.
