The Territory's natural environment is one of our greatest assets, and we understand that a strong economy relies on a healthy environment.
In another step towards the Territory Labor Governments Gamba Policy implementation, the Minister for Environment has today announced $50,000 for the Fire Ready Program to assist elderly or vulnerable rural residents to tackle gamba grass.
So far, four items of the Gamba Policy have been implemented, including the:
- Gamba Army;
- Mapping and tracing of Gamba;
- Gamba Action Program; and the
- Gamba Action Taskforce.
The Fire Ready Program is now the fifth item ticked off on the Gamba Policy.
Local jobs and businesses are being supported with this $50,000 spend with two Territory companies awarded the contracts to conduct the spraying of the noxious weed on rural properties.
Supporting local jobs two businesses who have won the gamba spraying works, are:
- Ten Rivers - who has been awarded the slashing, spraying and mechanical gamba control contract; and
- Sterling NT - who has been awarded the fuel reduction burning contract.
The purpose of the program is to assist elderly and vulnerable rural landholders to reduce their bushfire risk, by installing firebreaks and reducing gamba grass fuel loads.
Over the next 12 months up to 35 properties around the rural area of vulnerable and senior Territorians will be sprayed of gamba grass. These properties are already known to the department and will be worked on a needs based approach.
So far over 300 hectares of gamba infested land has been sprayed and is supporting up to dozen personnel spraying at any time.
Territorians are also taking part in the Gamba Action Program which is supporting our highest number ever of 2,352 landholders with free herbicide and equipment to manage their fuel loads on their rural properties.
Quotes from the Minister for Environment, Eva Lawler:
"The Territory Labor Government knows that smart environment policy is smart economic policy.
"For some landholders it is difficult to keep on top of this noxious weed, and that's why we are lending a hand to those in our community that need it most.
"We know that more action is needed to mitigate and eradicate Gamba grass, and that is what we are doing through a coordinated and targeted approach.
"So far our Gamba Army has sprayed more than 300 hectares of gamba grass and 2,352 Territorians taking part in the Gamba Action Program. We are taking tacking gamba grass seriously."
