A suggestion by National Party Senator, Matt Canavan, that western Queensland’s prickly acacia problem would be as good a candidate as wild dog exclusion fencing for federal government drought relief funding has been welcomed by the region’s natural resource management body.
In response to a severe economic downturn brought about by ongoing drought conditions, the federal government in 2016 made $10 million available for the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative.
Senator Canavan, who last week visited the Longreach region with Victorian Nationals Senator, Bridget McKenzie, said it was good to see the cluster fencing money being turned into infrastructure on the ground.
“We of course have put a substantial amount of money into dog fencing so it was good to see that working, with the state government,” he said.
“GABSI worked, cluster fencing worked, and certainly a weed eradication type program could possibly work, so it was good to get a briefing from Desert Channels on what sort of funding they’re asking for.
“They’re looking for ongoing, consistent funding. I can understand that, they’re living on a year to year basis.”
Desert Channels Queensland CEO, Leanne Kohler, said that prickly acacia infestations were stifling economic growth, as much as causing environmental harm, partly because of the amount of money people had to devote to fighting it.
“The Australian government estimated it costs properties $100,000 a year for weed control, and that’s money that’s not being spent on employment or buying goods in town,” she said. “It would gladden my heart no end if they were to make prickly acacia their next big drought relief target.”
DCQ would like $40 million from the federal government for the next eight years, or $5m a year, for prickly acacia control.
A dedicated weed fund, currently $200,000 has been made available, but Ms Kohler said it was mainly state govenrment money they were relying on for their prickly acacia eradication program.
“The first year we got $775,000, then it was $600,000 and $600,000, and now we’re on $500,000.
“What we’ve been able to achieve with that little bit of money is amazing.”
In three years, DCQ had managed to kill 50 million trees with a 600 per cent increase in grass coverage, a 500pc increase in grass biomass and a 300pc increase in grass species.
Over 140 hectares of native habitat has been restored and 600 kilometres of streamline vegetation has been protected.
Despite this, Ms Kohler said prickly acacia was spreading “quicker than rabbits”.
“The places we’ve been to, we’ve given people hope again, because we’re finally killing it successfully,” she said.
“We’ve gotten Transport and Main Roads, and local government with stock routes, on board, but we just can’t rest on our laurels.
“From an economic point of view, the government has already invested in fences, they’re up.
“But the rate prickly acacia is growing at, if no-one does anything between now and 2030, 90 per cent of our Mitchell grasslands will have some level of infestation.”
Senator McKenzie said the visit had helped her understand why her Queensland colleagues, particularly Barry O’Sullivan were so concerned.
“I understand the state government up here has taken DCQ to yearly contracts and they’re really struggling to a) hold staff and b) get that continuity,” she said.
Mr Canavan said their job now was to go back to Canberra and fight for the case in the Coalition party room.
“The last time I was in Longreach, it was just after those rains last year, so that was a bit of hope but it wasn’t followed up by summer rains unfortunately.
“We can’t make it rain but again, it’s why we invested in the dog fence, to try and help people get some work and get some income into the area.
“I think that the circumstances here strengthen the case for more funding for something like prickly acacia.
“We’ll see what we can do. We are always prepared to do what we can.”