The momentum of the Gamba Army is set to continue with the Territory Labor Government announcing a further $500,000 towards this job-creating and weed management initiative.
Conducting strategic work to curb the spread of gamba grass, the Gamba Army will assist in reducing the environmental and wildfire threat posed by this invasive weed, and support up to 40 jobs in the process.
The NT Weeds Management Branch and Territory Natural Resource Management will work in partnership to deliver the Gamba Army as part of a $500,000 investment to combat this invasive weed of national significance.
Over the past year, the priority areas of the Gamba Army included the spraying of 30 sites, encompassing 50 land parcels. This equated to nearly 7000 hectares, with approximately 760 hectares sprayed, including;
- Litchfield National Park;
- Charles Darwin National Park;
- Casuarina Coastal Reserve; and
- Numerous vacant crown land blocks such as Pine Forest on Howard Springs Road, a valued recreational area used by mountain bikers and runners.
The continuation of the Gamba Army maintains the Territory Labor Government's work to mitigate this weed through its Gamba Management Framework, underpinned by the statutory Weed Management Plan for Gamba Grass 2020-2030.
Budget 2021 will see more than $6.5 million injected into weeds management, which includes more than $600,000 directly into combating gamba. We will continue to invest in the spraying of gamba grass across the Top End, better coordinating activities on government land and assisting private landholders in controlling gamba on theirs.
Weed management on Aboriginal lands will also be supported through the Territory Government's Aboriginal Ranger grants program. This grants program has been continued for a further four years with $12 million invested to support a range of work including weed management. The current round of grants funding opened on 24 July and closes on 20 August 2021.
Quotes from the Minister for Environment, Eva Lawler:
"Continuing the Gamba Army makes sense – we have Territorians in jobs and we are working towards managing the spread of gamba across the Top End.
"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 who 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.
"Our Gamba Army will provide targeted support in areas of significance and provide up to 40 local jobs for Territorians to assist with stimulating the economy."
Quotes from the CEO of Territory Natural Resources Management, Karen May:
"We welcome the Northern Territory Government's continued support of the Gamba Army and commitment to tackling gamba grass"
"Successful weed management requires long term commitment, this second year of Gamba Army funding will ensure that follow-up control work and monitoring is undertaken across all sites sprayed in the last 12 months"
"The Gamba Army partnership will continue to coordinate and boost efforts to tackle the spread of gamba grass, it will extend and complement the work undertaken annually by contractors, rangers, community groups, government and private landholders."
"Territory Natural Resource Management is a not for profit organisation that partners with landholders, community groups, industry and government on projects that help to protect and improve the Territory's natural environment."
