IN the run-up to the last NSW State election, Southern Tablelands MPs, Pru Goward and Duncan Gay, were very strong on the need for urgent and much betterfunded action to control serrated tussock before it virtually destroyed grazing and associated industries.

Ms Goward (Family and Community Services) and Mr Gay (Roads and Ports) now have portfolios that aren’t directly concerned with noxious weeds. Hopefully, they haven’t lost their enthusiasm for the fight.

But this region is also represented by the O’Farrell government’s Primary Industries Minister, Katrina Hodgkinson, and she now has the challenge. So, how’s she making out?

The Post put a series of questions to the minister. These are our queries, and the replies from an Orange-based spokesperson for Ms Hodgkinson’s department.

1. Is the government now in the process of overhauling the NSW Noxious Weeds Act. If so, where are we at with this, and what are the key areas being looked at.

The NSW Noxious Weeds Act is an extremely effective and succinct piece of legislation that undergoes statutory review every five years. The NSW Government will shortly table the review of the NSW Noxious Weeds Act.

The review report recommends a number of statutory amendments to the Act to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.

Three issues covered by the Act review include;

i) Disclosure of weeds status to prospective land purchasers,

ii) ii) Introduction of a “white list” of approved plant species; and

iii) iii) Introduction of consistent land management obligations for both public and private landholders.

2. What are the key aims of the government with regard to overhauling the act and/or introducing new and more meaningful measures to control and eventually eradicate serrated tussock.

The NSW government is committed to weed management throughout the State. The key aim of this commitment is to reduce the impact of weeds on farmers, industry, the environment and the general public. Serrated tussock is one of many weeds that impact NSW.

It is important to keep this in context. Current best practice recognises that eradication of any weed is a highly ambitious and expensive process. The government will continue working to eradicate serrated tussock through the introduction of clever and strategic best practice solutions, that can have tangible results in reducing immediate impacts.

The current review of the Noxious Weeds Act outlines a number of significant issues that need further consideration, which will be progressed in consultation with the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee.

3. Is the government aware of the work being done in Victoria to successfully remediate large areas of once tussock-ruined pasture land, and will NSW be taking its lead from that Victorian work.

The NSW government is well aware of the work taking place in other States. NSW hosts the National Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) coordinator for serrated tussock.

The NSW government also funds the NSW serrated tussock coordinator and is listening to recommendations that have come from this project.

4. Will local councils and regional weeds authorities be consulted (insulted?!) by the government before the act is overhauled.

Local government and regional weeds authorities have been extensively involved throughout the entire consultation process. Many of the suggested amendments have been introduced purely in response to local government concerns.

If any areas have been neglected during the review, it is likely that these concerns were not raised by local government or regional weeds authorities during the consultation process. The NSW government addressed more than 88 submissions which were received from stakeholders.

5. Will noxious weed control in all its facets be taken over by meaningful departmental action and administration, and not remain with often ill-funded, do-nothing local government.

The effective control of serrated tussock issues is one of many weeds management issues being investigated by the NSW government. It must be stressed that local government only enforces the Noxious Weeds Act.

Ultimate responsible for the control of this predominantly pasture weed rests on farmers who are already facing considerable external pressures, such as water scarcity and economic pressures.

This is a complex problem that is not just a simple matter of local government enforcement of the Noxious Weeds Act. The NSW government is eager to increase the capacity of landowners to effectively deal with this weed.

For the related article on how the Upper Macquarie County Council has dealt with the problem, please see the print edition of Friday's Goulburn Post.