The Western Australian Government will invest $2.68 million in 2019-20 to support expanding community-led efforts to control feral animals and weeds that impact farms, pastoral properties and the environment.
Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan has approved Declared Pest Rates for 2019-20, which will be matched by State Government funding.
Landholder contributions and matching State Government funding will support Recognised Biosecurity Groups across 13 regional areas to implement strategic control programs targeting pests that are a priority in their area, ranging from wild dogs and feral pigs, to cotton bush and cactus.
The successful RBGs include:
- Blackwood Biosecurity Inc;
- Carnarvon Rangelands Biosecurity Association;
- Central Wheatbelt Biosecurity Association;
- Eastern Wheatbelt Biosecurity Group;
- Esperance Biosecurity Association;
- Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association;
- Kimberley Rangelands Biosecurity Association;
- Leschenault Biosecurity Group;
- Meekatharra Rangelands Biosecurity Association;
- Northern Biosecurity Group;
- Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group;
- Pilbara Regional Biosecurity Group; and
- Southern Biosecurity Group.
More information is available from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s website at https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/rbg
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“Problem pests vary from area to area. Recognised Biosecurity Groups are community led and managed, and are best placed to determine priority pests and the action needed for their areas.
“These groups work with communities to identify which established declared pests are a problem in their area, and the strategies needed to manage them.
“The Northern Biosecurity Group and Leschenault Biosecurity Group will for the first time have biosecurity programs funded through landholder contributions and with matching funding from the WA Government.
“Long-term commitment to declared pest management will have whole-of-community benefits, including reducing the time and cost of individual control efforts, and delivering industry and environmental benefits across an entire region.”
