Commitment secured for action plan

Embracing the concept of shared responsibility, Stage One of the initiative supported 34 projects through small grants delivered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. Five local councils also received funding to address drought weeds.

Now in Stage Two, the program is being facilitated by NRM North with support from NRM South and Cradle Coast NRM. Through a sustainable and strategic approach to tackling high priority weeds, the value of productive agricultural land will be markedly improved.

However, as weed management and biosecurity is a shared responsibility, the initiative provides an opportunity for landowners to co-invest.

President of Tasmania Farmers and Graziers Association, Ian Sauer, said removing the threat of serious weeds through continuous improvement and best practice management is largely dependent on partnerships.

“The Weeds Action Fund is a great opportunity for land managers to work across tenures with neighbours, collaboratively and strategically, with a shared responsibility to manage and eradicate weeds.”

Stage Two has established 49 projects with more than 650 collaborators including farmers, community groups, private enterprise, and government agencies. To date, for every dollar in WAF funding, $1.50 in co-contributions from project partners has been committed; and for each multi-year project established, commitment to maintain project outcomes for at least 10 years has been secured.