Title: More funding to manage Victorian roadside pests
[Euroa Gazette, Tue 03, 2010, p. 3] -- Municipal Councils across Victoria will benefit from a further $513,380 of Victorian Government funding in 2010/11 to assist them to tackle invasive plants and animals on roadsides. Strathbogie Shire will receive $30,000. Director of the Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) Invasive Plants and Animals Operations Branch, Brendan Roughead, said funding from the Victorian Government’s $205 million Future Farming Strategy was provided to ensure local councils had the capacity to tackle roadside weeds and rabbits effectively.
"The Government recognises the complexities of roadside pest management and we are committed to working closely with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and Local Government on the best way forward," Mr Roughead said.
He said that all Councils who met the funding criteria had received funding.
Mr Roughead said that this $513,380 added to the $3.37 million already allocated through rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the Building the Capacity of Local Government to Respond to Pests (BCLG) project.
"Funded activities include the treatment of priority invasive plants, improving their surveillance and mapping capabilities, WeedStop vehicle and machinery hygiene training for municipal staff, developing or updating their roadside weed management plans to help long term pest management and on-ground rabbit control programs," he said.
"Funding will also support major government/community partnership projects such as large-scale rabbit control in the Mallee where rabbits are a threat to important roadside vegetation and grain crops, and will complement community efforts by reducing the spread of invasive plants along roadside corridors.
"This grants program is an interim measure to continue invasive plant and animal management ou~comes while we continue to work closely with the MAV to resolve the long-term issue of responsibility for weeds and rabbit management on roadsides," Mr Roughead said.
Article: WeedsNews754 (permalink) Date: 6 August 2010; 1:14:30 PM AEST