Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Stopping and starving the weeds
Stop 'em and starve 'em is Kay Crosby's attitude to weeds.
It's the title that, as Principal Manager of Environment in Booringa Shire, she's coined for a cooperative weed control project in South West Queensland.
The project's main target is one of Australia's worst and most invasive weeds, parthenium. A Weed of National Significance, parthenium can germinate, grow, mature and set seed in four weeks with each pod containing hundreds of seeds. It costs grazing and cropping industries millions of dollars a year.
"We're aiming to accelerate the weed eradication efforts already being taken by landholders and to prevent the weed travelling down the Mungallala River to the flood plains around Bollon," said Kay.
Funding
The Australian Government has contributed $50,000 for the weed control effort through South West NRM Inc to Booringa Shire. Landholders are actively involved and support has come from Mitchell and District Landcare Group, the Injune and District Parthenium Group and the Queensland Government.
Activities
The first priority involves seven landholders who have parthenium along approximately 50 kilometres of Mungallala Creek. The weed is being controlled by spraying and biological controls are being trialled.
"Council has coordinated activities, helped with the spraying and has purchased resources like spray units and chemicals," said Kay.
"Even though the work directly affects only seven landholders, it has a potential to impact on hundreds more if the weed goes down the Mungallala Creek. A large number of these landholders travel to the site to help with spraying.
A second priority involves one landholder whose grazing property is affected by parthenium and which is scattered along a watercourse that eventually feeds into the Mungallala Creek. Spraying and biological controls are being used to control the weed here.
Booringa Shire Council is also helping Balonne and Warroo Shire Councils with similar weed control measures along 80 kilometres of the Maranoa River.
Achievements
"I'd like to say we could eradicate parthenium," said Kay. "But the seeds can stay dormant for several years. In the priority areas on Mungallala Creek we may be able to eradicate it, as the area is small, but in most places what we aim for is to prevent it spreading."
Kay said the support that landholders have given each other, plus their on-going vigilance in spotting outbreaks of the weed and taking early action has been a real achievement.
More information
- Kay Crosby, Principal Manager of Environment Booringa Shire: (07) 4623 8111
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