The Tasmanian Government will invest $347,906 in 11 projects through the latest round of the Weeds Action Fund, which aims to address weeds that impact agricultural land and the natural environment.
The recipients of the funding are Circular Head Landcare Group, Southern Midlands Council, Tamar NRM, Sorell and Tasman Council, King Island Landcare, Derwent Catchment Project, Barwick Family Trust, Enviro-dynamics, Bicheno Landcare, Clarence City Council and Friends of Bass Strait Islands.
According to Primary Industries and Water Minister Jo Palmer, the grants are available for projects that can demonstrate collaborative partnerships for coordinated containment or eradication activities to address priority weeds.
“These projects are tackling a variety of invasive weeds, including removing ricegrass from threatened saltmarsh communities, controlling asparagus fern and a besom heath eradication project,” Minister Palmer added.
The Minister stated that the funding round also supported existing projects that aim to expand their impact or geographical range.
Delivery partner NRM North expressed its delight at the level of interest in the fund, with Weeds Action Fund coordinator John White saying applications were received from around the state and represented a diverse range of candidates.
“Weeds know no borders, which is why a joint approach to weed management between landholders and community groups is so successful,” White stated.
In its 2023-2024 budget for Tasmania, the State Government committed an additional $1.4 million to support the continuation of the Weed Action Fund.
