Weeds Action Program Funding Announced
The NSW Government has announced the next four year round of funding under the Weeds Action Program.
The Minns Labor Government has delivered one of the pivotal foundations of its Biosecurity Action Plan with the $40.7 million NSW Weeds Action Program (WAP) guaranteeing for the first time four-year funding to local organisations to combat the impact of priority weeds.
Strengthening and streamlining NSW’s response to new and emerging high-risk weeds that can blight the landscape and impact farming productivity is being delivered through this new four-year funding for 97 Local Control Authorities (LCA) that are groups of local councils.
The ISJO – through its Illawarra District Weeds Authority Division – will receive $629,000 over the next four years in its capacity as delegated local control authority for the Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama LGAs.
The move from an annual grant is the biggest reform the program has seen in more than 60 years and is an important part of the Minns Government’s Biosecurity Action Plan, designed to ensure the state’s $25 billion-a-year primary industries continue to thrive.
The Minns Government introduced this new ongoing funding model after undertaking a review into biosecurity to improve its implementation across the state, cut red tape and provide greater certainty to LCAs.
The program supports targeted surveillance and rapid biosecurity responses, and is building a robust statewide network to prevent, eradicate and contain priority weeds by undertaking a range of actions, such as:
- Preventing Parthenium Weed entering NSW
- Preventing spread with the aim of eradicating Parkinsonia and Tropical Soda Apple weeds
- Working with landholders to contain alligator weed, frogbit, Hudson pear, Harrisia cactus and sticky nightshade
- Instigating surveillance and rapid response resources to detect new high-risk weeds early and act quickly to stop their spread
These high-risk weed species, which can cause significant environmental and agricultural damage and pose serious health risks to livestock, wildlife and people, require urgent action to stop them from becoming more widely established.
The new Weeds Action Program strengthens weed biosecurity by providing stable funding for risk-based planning, compliance and education, and ensures accountability from the LCAs through biannual reporting and evaluation.
The modernisation of the program by the Minns Government covers more than smarter funding it also includes increasing collaboration between government agencies, councils, and farmers groups. Importantly the focus on improved strategic delivery and measurable outcomes will be able to inform the program’s effectiveness and demonstrate the value of taxpayers’ dollars.
Led by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the new four-year program will be delivered in partnership with Local Land Services.