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The Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP
Minister for Primary Industries
Minister for Small Business
MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 27 January 2012
Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson today announced $8 million in funding to bolster weed management across NSW.
“Weeds are a $1.2 billion problem for the State’s farmers and the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to strengthening our weed management measures,” Katrina Hodgkinson said.
“The funding will be directed to the Weeds Action Grants Program and broader research and development initiatives to control noxious weeds, improve agricultural productivity and protect the environment.
“Under the Weeds Action Program, the NSW Government is supporting the roll out of 13 regional weed management projects.
“Moving away from a localised and narrow approach, the revamped Weeds Action Program is delivering a more strategic and regionally-coordinated approach to weed management.
“The program is all about marrying up our grants with our broader invasive species strategy and the needs of our farmers, the community and the environment.”
Ms Hodgkinson said that the Weeds Action Program continues to deliver innovative approaches to weed management.
“By collaborating and targeting our efforts we are able to have a real state-wide impact on problem weeds such as Serrated Tussock, Fireweed, Tropical Soda Apple and invasive aquatic weeds,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“On the North Coast, the funding is assisting local authorities to target Tropical Soda Apple and stop the spread of the weed by isolating and controlling cases in the Clarence Valley and Nambucca Shires.
“Further south, the Sydney Weeds Committee and Hunter Councils are establishing new measures to prevent incursions of aquatic weeds such as alligator weed and Senegal tea plant.
“Serrated tussock, a major focus of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government, is also being targeted under the Weeds Action Program, including in the Southern Tablelands area.”
**Breakdown of Weeds Action Grants attached**
2011-12 NSW Regional Weeds Action Program (WAP) year two grant allocations
Proponent Project Name 2011-12
Grant $
Cooma Monaro Shire Council Reducing the risk of invasive species to protect the environment 272,701
and agricultural assets of the Monaro and NSW 2010-2015
Southern Councils Group South Coast Regional Weeds Action Program 2010-2015 458,252
Palerang Council Southern Tablelands New and Emerging Weed Program 2010-2015 565,421
Greater Hume Shire Council Riverina (Lower Murray Darling, Lachlan, Murray and
Murrumbidgee Catchments) WAP 2010-2015 1,271,493
Hunter Councils Inc Hunter-Central Coast Regional Weed Management
Project 2010-2015 431,570
Upper Hunter County Council Upper Hunter Invasive Plant Management Project 2010-2015 200,976
Cowra Shire Council Lachlan Regional Weed Management Program 2010-2015 305,559
Cabonne Shire Council Macquarie Invasive Species Project 2010-2015 1,114,726
Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Committee Northern Inland NSW Weed Action Program 2010-2015 1,047,515
Upper Macquarie County Council (UMCC) UMCC Noxious Weeds Program 2010-2015 215,996
Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee MNCWAC Strategic Invasive Weeds Plan 2010-2015 434,482
(MNCWAC)
Far North Coast Weeds North Coast Weed Action Program 2010-2015 918,936
Sydney Weeds Committee Sydney Weed Action 2010-2015 842,674
Total: $8,080,301
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