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Cash to fight weed problem

By Tania Martin
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has stepped up its war on weeds, injecting more than $500,000 to keep up the fight.
The move was announced last Tuesday 26 May, following the release of the shire’s 2009-10 draft budget.
Mayor Len Cox said it was vital to put cash into weeds but a lot more needed to be done.
“It’s nothing like what is needed to control the problem,” he said.
Cr Cox said the council had been hoping to get cash from both State and Federal governments this year but the issue had been ignored.
“It was disappointing we didn’t get anything,” he said.
Cr Cox said the weed problem was evident right across the shire.
“In the Dandenongs alone you see weeds wherever you go … ,” he said.
“If something isn’t done very shortly we will reach the point of no return.”
Cr Cox said weeds also posed a huge fire risk.
“Weeds give fire something to grip onto,” he said.
In the draft budget the council has allocated $250,000 for additional funding to help target seasonal weeds in the shire’s 119 bushland reserves.
A further $200,000 has been allocated to extend the weed black spot program and $80,000 for the establishment of weed strategy officers who will co-ordinate eradication programs, conduct community education and awareness campaigns and work with friends groups.
Lyster Ward’s councillor Samantha Dunn said putting cash into weeds was critical.
“We have seen a real explosion in the Dandenongs over the past 10 years,” she said.
Cr Dunn said the council’s first weed strategy announced in 2006 had been a step in the right direction but the council had dropped the ball since then.
“We are now going back to putting real funding into weeds … we are now starting to put our money where our mouth is,” Cr Dunn said.
Cr Dunn said State and Federal governments also needed to come to the party.
“We have reached a critical time with weeds, if we don’t do anything now the problem will be so immense it will be impossible to solve,” she said.

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