Nine weeds are in the firing line to be eradicated or be halted in their tracks under a new round of a funding program.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Weeds Action Fund launched a large grants round for the first time at Westwood on Wednesday.
Nine invasive weed species will be targeted under the program: gorse, serrated tussock, Chilean needle grass, African feathergrass, African lovegrass, Parramatta grass, yellow burweed heather and Karamu.
It will be the first time the program has offered a large grants round, with up to $50,000 a year for three years on offer to successful applications.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Weeds Action Fund coordinator Raelene Mibus said a focus of the large grants round would be collaboration.
"To be successful, applications must be built on strong collaboration and engage broadly across the community. This may involve working with your neighbours, local council, other infrastructure providers or agencies, like TasWater, TasRail, State Growth Roads, forestry businesses, or community groups," Dr Mibus said.
"We are looking to protect and improve highly valued areas across Tasmania in a lasting way."
The launch was attended by Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett who said weed eradication was everyone's responsibility.
"This [weed eradication] is part of the Tasmanian brand, and it's a crucial part of what we do," he said.
"The Weed Action Fund's large grants program is open to eligible multi-year, large-scale projects that involve neighbouring landholders and other stakeholders in the effort to eradicate weeds that are damaging to our environment.
"In turn, this will lead to significant, lasting and measurable improvements to the productivity of agricultural land and the protection of our environmental assets."
RELATED STORY: Farmer fighting for the environnment
The project is delivered by NRM North and chief executive Rosanna Coombes said a crucial component would be collaboration.
"The small grants program has been over-subscribed, so we know the demand is there," she said.
"But what we found is people who were applying for the small grants, we saw clusters of applicants."
Ms Coombes said NRM North was working with those applicants to put forward a group application for the large grant round.
However, she said successful applicants would be able to demonstrate meaningful change beyond the life of the immediate project.
Funding is available for on-ground works, planning and extent mapping, community education, extension activities, and project management support.
Applications close Wednesday May 5 at 5pm.
Guidelines and application forms for the Weeds Action Fund large grants are available from the NRM North website, nrmnorth.org.au.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
- Follow us on Google News: The Examiner