SUPPORT FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA TO BETTER MANAGE ESTABLISHED PEST ANIMALS AND WEEDS

Member for Barker Tony Pasin has welcomed Federal Government funding of $740,000 for two projects in South Australia to improve management of priority pest species as part of the $30.3 million Established Pest Animals and Weeds Management Pipeline Program.

Mr Pasin said the two South Australian projects will ensure land managers were on the front foot in the fight against established pest animals and weeds, to limit the impact they can have on agriculture, the environment and indigenous heritage.

The first project will see the appointment of a Pest Animal Coordinator to support best practice control of rabbits, deer and foxes, and a Biosecurity Coordinator for Invasive Grasses to support the management of unpalatable perennial grasses

“The coordinators will work together with SA’s regional landscape boards to support landholder groups seeking to improve local coordinated control of priority pests, in turn providing examples for future extension activities,” Mr Pasin said.

The second project will focus on building the capacity of Aboriginal land managers to control Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) through the appointment of a State WoNS coordinator – Aboriginal Lands.

The WoNS coordinator for Aboriginal lands will work with Indigenous communities and delivery partners, providing advice, coordinating training and establishing management priorities, to improve the coordinated management of WoNS on their lands.

The coordinator roles will leverage the successes of the community-engagement model already being used in South Australia to improve land manager skills and capacity, and the coordinated, landscape-scale management of these priority species.

Mr Pasin said the SA government and landscape boards are providing more than $4 million of cash and in-kind support towards the projects, building on their existing commitment to community-led action for established pest animals and weeds.

“These projects are a great example of how strong collaboration across governments and land managers can improve the management of established pest animals and weeds,” Mr Pasin said.

“Pest animals and weeds not only reduce agricultural productivity, they also cause damage to the environment and natural resources.”

“Funding through this program aims to deliver a lasting legacy to farmers, land managers and the wider community in the fight against established pest animals and weeds,” Mr Pasin said.

ENDS