Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Removing the threat of African feather grass
Regnans Enviro Contracting Directors Diana Harris and Glenn Szalman prepare for spraying
Diana sprays African Feather Grass
Feather Grass is a drought-resistant, highly invasive
African Feather Grass is trespassing on Tasmania (it most likely hitched a ride from South African hay in the early 1900s) and is slowly invading the Derwent Catchment.
It's one of many weeds costing the state's economy more than $33 million a year in control measures and loss of primary production.
The eradication of this drought-resistant, one to two metre-high weed will be thorough thanks to the establishment of a Technical Working Group, a survey of weed populations on the Derwent River and an eradication and control strategy.
Funding
The Derwent Catchment's project has received $250,000 from the Australian Government and contributions from the State Government through the Southern Natural Resource Management Regional Committee.
Activities
Steven Joyce from the Central Highlands Council said the State Government has been trying to eradicate the grass for 30 years.
"This time there are new types of herbicides available, we can get on top of it," he said. "The grass has spread across 30 properties so it's confined to a small area.
"We plan to educate 30 landholders in the Plenty and Glenfern catchments to be on the lookout and let us know of new outbreaks. We'll follow up the eradication with further spraying, rather than just hitting it once and hoping it's gone.
"The infestation and locations were mapped two years ago, but we'll go out again to make sure the extent hasn't spread too far. Weed control work is highly seasonal and we need to do it in summer when the water's at its lowest in the rivers so we can get as far down the bank as possible."
Another priority for the catchment is poor water quality in the Dew Rivulet, which flows into the Clyde and Derwent Rivers. This is a concern as the Derwent Catchment provides up to 90 per cent of the drinking water in Southern Tasmania, supplying about 200,000 people.
"We aim to provide one-on-one help for farmers and work with landholders in developing a Rivercare plan of action," Steven said.
Achievements
"We've had a fantastic reception from farmers - in the past it's been the landholder who puts up their hand to want to do something but this time we're contacting them. Each farmer has got an idea of what they need to do - they just need support."
This encouragement is further boosted by the fact that 90 per cent of farmers in the Derwent Catchment belong to a Landcare group.
More information
- Steven Joyce: (03) 6286 3211 or sjoyce@centralhighlnds.tas.gov.au
See also
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