We provided funding to drought affected local councils over 2019-20 and 2020-21. Round 2 of the program delivered $10 million towards 23 projects. This built on Round 1 which delivered $15 million for 48 projects in 2018-19.
Purpose
Objectives of the program are to:
- help communities manage pest animals and weeds during drought
- reduce the impact of pest animals and weeds on agriculture and the environment
- contribute to our broader biosecurity objectives.
Benefits
The program funding helped:
- create local jobs
- boost economic activity
- manage pest animals and weeds for long-term community benefit.
Outcomes
Local councils, land holders and natural resource management groups delivered:
- economic stimulus for local suppliers and contractors
- employment in drought affected communities
- increased awareness of land holder responsibilities
- improved landholder capacity and skills (weed identification and chemical handling licences)
- property inspections and community events
- removal of pest animals through trapping, baiting and aerial culling
- construction of fencing, distribution of baits and destruction of rabbit warrens
- mapping of weed distribution, application of herbicides and stem injections, and mechanical removals
- collaborative partnerships between landholders, local councils and land managers.
Round 2 of the Communities Combating Pests and Weed Impacts During Drought Program — Biosecurity Management of Pests and Weeds is delivering $10 million to local councils in drought-affected areas.
Applications closed for round 2 on 5 February 2020. Council areas affected by exceptional circumstances, such as the recent bushfires, were able to submit late applications up until 19 February 2020.
Successful projects are expected to be completed by December 2021.
Round 2 successful projects
| Project title | Lead recipient | Consortium councils | Up to value ($ GST not applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combating the state priority weed tropical soda apple in the Macleay Valley during prolonged drought conditions | Armidale Regional Council, NSW | N/A | $410,654.00 |
| Western NSW combined shires engaged community wild dog control project | Bourke Shire Council, NSW | Brewarrina Shire Council, Cobar Shire Council, Central Darling Shire Council, NSW | $234,418.48 |
| Agricultural advice, weed and pest animal control in Byron Shire | Byron Shire Council, NSW | N/A | $299,712.00 |
| Combating pest animals and weeds across the drought-affected Dubbo Regional LGA | Dubbo Regional Council, NSW | N/A | $274,020.00 |
| Combating priority agricultural weeds in the Eurobodalla Shire | Eurobodalla Shire Council, NSW | N/A | $249,988.00 |
| Combating local priority weeds in a collaborative cooperative coordinated approach | Glen Innes Severn Council, NSW | N/A | $683,681.00 |
| Combating weed biosecurity matter and pest animal issues in the Brigalow Creek, Bundock/Middle Creek and Yarrie Lake districts whilst trying to stimulate the local economy | Narrabri Shire Council, NSW | N/A | $233,200.00 |
| Regional collaboration to prevent the establishment of feral deer in the Northern Rivers of NSW | Tweed Shire Council, NSW | Lismore City Council, Kyogle Council, NSW | $262,037.00 |
| Moona-Winterbourne linear barrier fence | Walcha Council, NSW | N/A | $986,800.00 |
| Wide Bay Burnett fighting back project | Bundaberg Regional Council, QLD | North Burnett Regional Council, South Burnett Regional Council, QLD | $338,000.00 |
| Maranoa enhanced vertebrate pest management project | Maranoa Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $405,000.00 |
| Communities combating pest and weed impacts during drought program - Somerset | Somerset Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $661,191.52 |
| Managing pests: beyond the drought | Southern Downs Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $434,020.00 |
| Drought recovery and resilience on the Western Downs | Western Downs Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $395,200.00 |
| Follow-up pest plant and animal control works to improve agricultural productivity in the drought-affected Coorong District Council | Coorong District Council, SA | N/A | $459,510.00 |
| Southern Mallee weed and pest management project | District Council of Karoonda East Murray, SA | Southern Mallee District Council, SA | $985,000.00 |
| Combating Zone A priority declared weeds on farms during drought in Glamorgan Spring Bay | Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, TAS | N/A | $174,220.00 |
| Benalla community working together to tackle weeds and pests during drought | Benalla Rural City Council, VIC | N/A | $141,000.00 |
| Supporting pest animal and weed management | Wangaratta Rural City Council, VIC | N/A | $696,900.00 |
| Building community and landholder resilience and capacity for agricultural, economic and environmental drought recovery in the Wellington Shire | Wellington Shire Council, VIC | N/A | $536,000.00 |
| South-West WA collaborative declared weed management scheme | Shire of Collie, WA | Shire of Dardanup, Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup, WA | $945,798.25 |
| Plantagenet weed response | Shire of Plantagenet, WA | N/A | $98,010.00 |
| Ravensthorpe pest animal and weed management project | Shire of Ravensthorpe, WA | N/A | $94,468.00 |
| Total | $9,998,828.25 | ||
Round 1 of the Communities Combating Pests and Weed Impacts During Drought Program — Biosecurity Management of Pests and Weeds has delivered $15 million to local councils in drought-affected areas.
Applications closed for round 1 on 15 February 2019.
Round 1 successful projects
| Project Title | Lead Recipient | Consortium councils | Up to value ($ GST not applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winton Wild Dog Exclusion Fencing 2019 Cluster | Winton Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $800,000.00 |
| Barcaldine Regional Council Wild Dog Exclusion Fence Project | Barcaldine Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $400,000.00 |
| Murweh Shire wild dog exclusion programme | Murweh Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $600,000.00 |
| Exclusion fencing for a sustainable sheep and wool industry in the Southern Downs Region of Queensland. | Southern Downs Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $1,000,000.00 |
| Longreach Wild Dog Exclusion Fence Scheme Stage 2 | Longreach Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $880,000.00 |
| Wild Dog Exclusion Fencing Project | Barcoo Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $900,000.00 |
| Preventing the movement of wild dogs into and within the Council area to improve effectiveness of our control programs | Goondiwindi Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $454,260.00 |
| Balonne Shire Wild Dog Exclusion Fencing | Balonne Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $800,000.00 |
| Multi Property Exclusion Fence | Quilpie Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $900,000.00 |
| Coordinated Control to Combating Priority Pests and Weeds on the Western Downs | Western Downs Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $159,800.00 |
| Leander Coral Cactus Containment Project | Longreach Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $110,000.00 |
| Crush the Cactus | Maranoa Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $210,000.00 |
| Paroo Pest Project Wild Dog Management and Control | Paroo Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $196,500.00 |
| Pest and Weed Management Project 2019 | Winton Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $200,000.00 |
| Weed Free by 2022 Project | Barcoo Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $80,000.00 |
| Eradication of Mimosa Weed Within the Diamantina Shire | Diamantina Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $150,000.00 |
| Moonie & Maranoa River Catchment Areas Weed Management | Balonne Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $200,000.00 |
| Channel Country Weed Project - Hamilton Channels - Stage 2 | Boulia Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $100,000.00 |
| Central Highlands Regional Council Pest plant project, Mother of Millions and other significant pest plant infestation throughout the CHRC region Cactus variety. | Central Highlands Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $67,500.00 |
| Grazing Reserve Land Improvement Project | Charters Towers Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $60,000.00 |
| Quilpie Shire Pest Weed Eradication Program | Quilpie Shire Council, QLD | N/A | $100,000.00 |
| Top of Catchment Weed Management | Gladstone Regional Council, QLD | N/A | $366,200.00 |
| Beefing up Braidwood - Enhancing weed management to sustain pasture production during drought | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, NSW | N/A | $500,000.00 |
| Combatting Biosecurity Matter and Pest Animal Issues in the Pilliga/Gwabegar and Cuttabri district whilst trying to stimulate the local economy | Narrabri Shire Council, NSW | N/A | $127,680.57 |
| Reducing the impacts of Regional Priority weeds within the Tenterfield Shire during drought (Serrated Tussock and Blackberry). | Tenterfield Shire Council, NSW | N/A | $776,300.00 |
| High Risk Pathways LGA Wide Weeds Poisoning Project | Goulburn Mulwaree Council, NSW | N/A | $411,362.00 |
| Improving productivity for Illawarra pasture based dairy farmers through biosecurity management of the priority weed Giant Parramatta grass. | The Council of the Municipality of Kiama, NSW | Shellharbour City Council, Wollongong City Council, NSW | $49,350.00 |
| Western Division Shires Coordinated Integrated Wild Dog Program | Bourke Shire Council, NSW | Brewarinna Shire Council, Broken Hill City Council, Central Darling Shire Council, Cobar Shire Council, Wentworth Shire Council, NSW | $926,000.00 |
| Murchison Region Vermin Cell Fence | Shire of Yalgoo, WA | N/A | $218,000.00 |
| Extending the State Barrier Fence in Western Australia | Shire of Esperance, WA | Shire of Ravensthorpe, WA | $955,982.73 |
| Geographically strategic fox baiting interventions collaborated across the Great Southern district area of WA to reduce potential injury or death to our industry-vital farm sheep populations | Shire of Kent, WA | Shire of Lake Grace, Shire of Jerramungup, Shire of Plantagenet, Shire of Cranbrook, Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup, Shire of Katanning, Shire of Dumbleyung*, Shire of Woodanilling, Shire of Kojonup, Shire of Gnowangerup, Shire of Wagin, WA | $99,999.00 |
| Combating Pests in CWBA Region, Western Australia | Shire of Dalwallinu, WA | Shire of Koorda, Shire of Morawa, Shire of Perenjori, WA | $88,000.00 |
| Sustainable Strategic Pest Management for the Shire of Manjimup Community | Shire of Manjimup, WA | N/A | $200,000.00 |
| The East Gippsland Dog Fight - Farmers Building the Barrier | East Gippsland Shire Council, VIC | N/A | $343,000.00 |
| Exclusion fencing to enhance the integrated approach to wild dog control in North East Victoria | Benalla Rural City Council, VIC | N/A | $42,000.00 |
| Benalla and Moira Communities Working Together to Combat Weeds and Pests During Drought | Benalla Rural City Council, VIC | Moira Shire Council, VIC | $123,000.00 |
| Taking action now to reduce current and future impacts of African boxthorn on the productivity of grazing and cropping country on Dudley Peninsula, Kangaroo Island. | Kangaroo Island Council, SA | N/A | $55,500.00 |
| South Australian Mallee and Riverland Weed and Pest Management Program | District Council of Karoonda East Murray, SA | Southern Mallee District Council, District Council of Loxton Waikerie, SA | $306,148.00 |
| Serrated tussock management in drought affected South Eastern Tasmania | Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, TAS | Tasman Council, TAS | $63,836.75 |
| Combating Regionally Controlled Weeds in the Strzelecki Ranges | South Gippsland Shire Council, VIC | N/A | $84,545.45 |
| Pest plant and animal control works to improve agricultural productivity in the drought affected Coorong District Council | Coorong District Council, SA | N/A | $243,908.00 |
| Communities combatting pest weeds for increased productivity | District Council of Orroroo Carrieton, SA | N/A | $118,940.00 |
| Eradicating Weeds of National Significance in the Mount Barker District | Mount Barker District Council, SA | N/A | $33,900.00 |
| Biosecurity enhancement - Wakefield and Light | Wakefield Regional Council, SA | Light Regional Council, SA | $200,000.00 |
| Control of Weeds of National Significance and Declared plants in coastal reserves to reduce seedbank and spread to agricultural properties | Yorke Peninsula Council, SA | N/A | $31,350.00 |
| Barunga West Council Weed Removal Project | Barunga West Council, SA | N/A | $31,500.00 |
| Rabbit control and treatment of pest plants providing rabbit harbour and/or causing significant agricultural impacts across Colac Otway Shire | Colac Otway Shire, VIC | N/A | $200,000.00 |
| Communities Combating Pests and Weeds and Protecting EPBC Flora/ Fauna 2019 - 2020 | Rural City of Murray Bridge, SA | N/A | $35,437.50 |
| Total | $15,000,000.00 | ||
* Subsequently withdrew from the project.