Creating Jobs and Eradicating Weeds – Gamba Army Starts Spraying for 2022

NT Government

9 March 2022

The momentum of the Gamba Army is set to continue with spraying beginning for 2022.

The Territory Labor Government is investing another $500,000 into the job creating Gamba Army, which will enable more sites to be targeted as part of the innovative weed targeting program.

The Gamba Army workforce was a Labor Government election commitment in 2020 to reduce the impact of gamba grass and provide much needed employment for Territorians – so far $1 million has been invested into the program.

The additional funding for the Gamba Army will target more sites this year, building from the more than 30 sites from last season. Collaboration between local councils and NT government agencies has helped identify additional gamba grass sites in the rural area, which will be prioritised for control by the Gamba Army. Over 1000 hectares of gamba grass infested land has been sprayed.

The spray season will continue until May, aiming to spray gamba grass while it is green, and before it sets seed.

The Gamba Army has already commenced follow-up spraying on areas treated last season, including Charles Darwin National Park, Casuarina Coastal Reserve, the Howard Springs Pine Forest, and Knuckey Lagoons Nature Reserve areas prioritised for their biodiversity, community, and amenity values.

This follow-up treatment is essential to build on the positive results from last season, to continue to reduce gamba grass infestations and minimise wildfire risk.

The continuation of the Gamba Army maintains the Territory Labor Government’s work to mitigate this weed through its Gamba Management Framework, underpinned by the statutory Weed Management Plan for Gamba Grass 2020-2030.

The Territory Government invests $6.5 million into weeds management, which includes more than $600,000 directly into combating gamba. We will continue to invest in the management of gamba grass across the Top End, better coordinating activities on government land and assisting private landholders in controlling gamba on theirs.

Quotes from the Minister for Environment, Eva Lawler:

“We are continuing our great work to combat gamba. Continuing the Gamba Army makes sense – we have Territorians in jobs and we are working towards managing the spread of gamba across the Top End.

“For some landholders it is difficult to keep on top of this noxious weed, and that’s why we are lending a hand to those in our community who need it most.

“We know that more action is needed to mitigate and eradicate gamba grass, and that is what we are doing through a coordinated and targeted approach.

“Our Gamba Army will provide targeted support in areas of significance and support local jobs and businesses.”

Quotes from the Gamba Army Coordinator, Rowena Eastwick of Territory Natural Resource Management:

“Successful weed management requires long term commitment, continued support for the Gamba Army will ensure that essential follow-up work is undertaken across all sites sprayed last season”

“The Gamba Army will continue work until May, aiming to spray gamba grass while it is green, and before it sets seed.”

“The Gamba Army partnership will continue to coordinate and boost efforts to tackle the spread of gamba grass, complementing work undertaken by contractors, rangers, community groups, government and private landholders.”

Northern Territory Government

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