By Tania Martin
Monbulk MP James Merlino and Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox say extra weeds cash will help in a bid to get ready for the next fire season. 34262
A HILLS environmentalist has slammed a $2 million four-year weed eradication deal for the Dandenongs as “pathetic”.
The State Government and Shire of Yarra Ranges announced the deal last Thursday (30 July).
It would see both tiers of government pitch in $1 million each over the next four years.
But Selby’s Darcy Duggan said it was nowhere near enough.
“I’m quite angry to be honest,” he said. “It’s not enough to fix the scale of the problem.”
Mr Duggan said the government had ignored the weeds issue for more than 10 years by severely underfunding weed eradication.
“They have allowed the problem to explode out of all proportions,” he said.
Mr Duggan it was great to see the government finally acknowledging the problem, but the $2 million over four years was “pathetic”.
“It does little more than shuffling deck chairs around,” he said.
“If they are realistic about fixing the problem a lot more needs to be spent to get on top of it.” But Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox believes the cash would go a long way towards fixing the problem.
Councillor Cox has been campaigning for extra weeds cash for more than two years.
The Mail reported in May 2007 calls from Cr Cox for the State Government to spend an extra $1 million a year in the Dandenongs.
Last week he told the Mail the weed situation in the hills was “appalling”.
Cr Cox said it was getting worse by the year and if left for another decade would be past the point of return.
“If we didn’t do anything now it would destroy the bush,” he said.
“Council has been trying for years to do something and this money will be an immense help.”
The cash will be used to target ivy, blackberries and pittosporum weeds running riot across the shire.
“There is no upper limit of money that we could spend on weeds,” Cr Cox said.
Monbulk MP James Merlino announced the cash.
He said weeds in the Dandenong’s were one of the most significant environmental issues in the region.
Mr Merlino said the weed money was also important in the bid to reduce fuel in the lead-up to another dangerous fire season.
“We are hearing the coming fire season will be every bit as difficult as the previous and fire reduction is vital,” he said.
Mr Duggan believes a minimum of $5 million a year is needed.
“We are getting $500,000 a year to spend on weeds … I can’t say I am overjoyed or pleased by this after so many years of being ignored,” he said.
Mr Duggan said given the extent of lobbying for weeds cash for the Dandenongs, this new money would do little if anything to help. “This seems like a ruse to me … the State Government is trying to cover its ass after years of neglect,” he said. “If used wisely this money could fix some of the problems but it’s not going to solve them … it won’t even scratch the surface.”
