Title: Community to lead the way for gorse management
[DPI September 9, 2009] Community members will now lead the way in the battle against gorse in Victoria. The Victorian Gorse Taskforce (VGT) will engage a community member, in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), to coordinate education and treatment programs for gorse control. The VGT has conducted a review of how gorse education and treatment programs are delivered to land managers which identified the potential for alternate delivery methods for on-ground programs. Traditionally, the VGT has paid for DPI Pest Management Officers to deliver education, treatment and compliance projects with land managers.
VGT Chair Peter Everist said the Victorian Gorse Taskforce believes there are community providers that are better placed to deliver these services, such as established community-based staff or independent contractors.
“This move will be more cost effective for the VGT and will place a greater emphasis on voluntary compliance for gorse management rather than regulatory enforcement,” Dr Everist said.
“By using service providers in the community with a wide range of natural resource management experience we will be fostering an integrated approach to gorse control, recognising that pest control should be part of a broader best practice land management program.
“This will support land managers to make more informed decisions, be adaptable and manage their gorse problem more effectively.”
DPI’s Project Manager Victorian Community Weeds Steve Young said the new approach will enable DPI to provide better services to farmers by using community expertise while maintaining the collaborative partnership with the VGT.
“Through this new delivery model, which is aligned with DPI’s Better Services to Farmers initiative, land managers will receive better targeted, more accessible and more relevant services,” Mr Young said.
“The VGT and DPI will continue its strong partnership to implement a new, efficient and cost-effective way of delivering the gorse control message.
“DPI will also continue to provide Executive Officer and compliance support for on-ground projects.”
