The Department of Environment and Natural Resources today launched the 2017 Gamba Action Program in Darwin.

Weeds Management Branch Manager, Operations and Compliance, Roni Opden said Top End landholders can obtain free limited herbicide and spray equipment loans from Monday at:

·        Freds Pass Sport and Recreation Reserve, Bees Creek - 0427272586

·        Katherine Weed Management Depot - 89738857

·        Coomalie Community Government Council, Batchelor - 89760058

·        Bushfires NT, Batchelor - 89760098

·        Territory Wildlife Park, Berry Springs - 0401114912

·        Dundee Beach, Paul Brown – 89782107

·        Wagait Shire Council, Gary - 0427133959

Ms Opden said this year’s Gamba Action Program had benefited from a $300,000 boost in the Northern Territory Government’s Budget 2017 to help landholders manage gamba on their properties and comply with the Weeds Management Act.

“This year’s Program will continue the positive progress made last year that resulted in a record 2200 participants obtaining free herbicide,” Ms Opden said.

“It is pleasing to see a significant and continual increase in participants obtaining free herbicide and spray equipment, with a noticeable reduction of gamba grass in the greater Darwin region.

“However, there remains a significant cohort placing themselves and others at risk of wildfires fuelled by gamba grass.

“That’s why we will continue our targeted inspections of specific areas and will take action to ensure landholders meet their gamba grass management obligations, should the need arise.

“Gamba grass not only presents a huge fire risk in the Dry Season but outcompetes native grasses and diminishes habitat that many of our Top End wildlife call home, such as northern quolls, brush-tailed rabbit-rat and Northern Brush-tailed Phascogales.” 

Aerial surveys undertaken in recent years give valuable insight into the location of gamba grass in Darwin’s rural area and also show obvious patterns of spread radiating from critically affected areas.

“The best time to spray the herbicide is during the wet season, while the plants are between knee and hip height,” Ms Opden said.

“This is particularly true if your property burnt last year and why we have timed the release of free herbicide and equipment loans with the onset of the Wet Season.”

Go to www.nt.gov.au/gamba for more information about free herbicide and equipment loans.

Ends

Media Note - For further information / interview please contact Roni Opden on 89994564.