Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Tackling the mesquite thorn in WA's side
Mesquite has a reputation as one of Australia's worst weeds due to its invasiveness, potential for spread and economic and environmental impacts.
Its trail of destruction includes erosion from the loss of the grassland habitat that supports native plants and animals; and providing safe refuges for feral animals.
Funding
In a bid to tackle this thorny problem, more than $545,000 from the Australian Government plus support from the State Government - through the NRM Rangelands Co-ordinating Group - is going towards a project to manage the noxious weed. Mesquite has infested more than 150,000 hectares of the State's Pilbara region.
These vital funds are being used to employ a full-time project officer to oversee field trials at Mardie Station in the Pilbara.
Activities
Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee Project Officer Linda Anderson said thornless mesquite was introduced to the Pilbara in the 1930s as fodder for stock, but it had since hybridised into a thorny weed. The plant now covers a large area of Mardie Station and the infestation is the largest of its kind in Australia.
"Funds will support research into developing best-practice and cost-effective control techniques of moderate and dense infestations and supplement the control work already carried out by station owners, managers and staff," Linda said.
"Our trial has been running for two-and-a-half years. It's looking at the best combination of mechanical and fire treatments to reduce the population to a point where it's no longer considered a weed.
"We've had a good wet season in 2006, which has given us enough understorey of grass and fuel to get our fires through. We did one fire around Christmas 2006 and plan to do two in 2007 - depending on cyclones."
While Mardie Station is the worst-affected area in the Rangelands Region there are scattered infestations between Karratha and Onslow. There are also pockets of mesquite in the Gascoyne and Kimberley.
Achievements
"We're doing what we can to stop the spread of mesquite and encouraging pastoralists off Mardie Station to get in and control their weeds before infestations get out of hand," Linda said. "This project is one of the most ambitious community-led projects of its kind in rangeland Australia."
Research at Mardie Station is a collaborative effort between the Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee, WA Government departments, CSIRO and station owners.
More information
- Linda Anderson, Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee: (08) 9144 1844 or pmmcinc@bigpond.net.au
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