Weed program in doubt

By Casey Neill
EFFORTS to control wandering trad in the hills may be dealt a blow with the future of a Federal Government research project in doubt.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood announced the allocation of $456,000 in Federal Government funding for ecological studies into controlling wandering trad on 22 October last year.
Mr Wood personally delivered a letter to Environment Minister Peter Garrett on 22 February asking him to reconsider any decision to cancel the funding.
“I am sure that you would agree that research into this weed is a first step in tackling the problem on a national level,” he said in his letter to the minister.
“Wandering trad receives no agricultural funding and the Victorian State Government does not declare it as a weed of significance even though two nationally endangered Australian native plants… are particularly vulnerable to wandering trad,” the letter read.
The letter followed a call to Mr Wood from CSIRO researcher Doctor Andy Sheppard.
Mr Wood said Dr Sheppard told him he had contacted Mr Garrett’s office to find out when the government would receive funding for the weed control research program.
The Liberal MP said Dr Sheppard was told that the Federal Government was not obliged to honour the funding commitment.
“It’s a slap in the face,” Mr Wood said.
“It would be an absolute disgrace if this funding is cancelled.”
Mr Wood said a number of local environment groups planned to contact the Federal Environment Minister to try to save the project.
Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan said the shire would also write to Mr Garrett.
Mr Wood said wandering trad falls through the gaps in weed funding criteria.
The pest is not listed as an agricultural weed so its control is not covered by Federal Government funding.
It is not classified as an environmental weed by the State Government and so it can still be sold in nurseries.
The ALP candidate for La Trobe at the previous federal election, Rodney Cocks, announced plans for a $15 million four-year investment into a National Weeds Research and Productivity Program during the election campaign on 12 November last year.
The $15.3 million program was to reduce the presence and impact of invasive plants on Australian agriculture, forestry and native vegetation.
The Mail contacted Mr Garrett’s office for comment but did not receive a response before going to print.