Page 4125 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 18 November 2015

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Environment and Planning Directorate in the strategic and operational management of weeds in the ACT, most recently met on 27 February this year and it remains an active advisory group for both TAMS and EPD.

The February meeting resolved to amend the terms of reference of the group to ensure it remained focused on providing strategic advice to government on all matters related to weeds and weed control. The group also agreed to meet twice yearly, with the timing of the second meeting for this year currently being finalised. I understand that the group also communicates regularly via email to provide ongoing advice and coordination.

In closing, let me emphasise that the government recognises that an effective weed control program is an important element of its land management effort. Together with stakeholders such as the ParkCare and Landcare community and the territory’s rural lessees, this government will continue to strengthen the resilience of our natural environment by controlling environmental weeds.

I move the amendment circulated in my name:

Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:

“(1) notes that:

(a) the Government is committed to delivering an effective and targeted annual environmental weeds control program for the ACT;

(b) recurrent base funding for environmental weed management is important for long term strategic planning, and has increased to $1.2 million per annum, up from $759 000 in 2014-2015 and $513 000 in 2013-2014;

(d) additional funding for weed management was provided in the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 Budgets as part of the Enhanced Biodiversity Stewardship initiative;

(e) the Government has committed ongoing funding for a dedicated ParkCare Coordinator to support volunteers in the ParkCare community to undertake bush regeneration and weed management work;

(f) the Auditor-General’s Report on Restoration of the Lower Cotter Catchment (Report No. 3/2015) highlights that priority needs to be given to important and ongoing work including controlling major weeds in the ACT;

(g) the 2015-2016 Budget has allocated ongoing recurrent funding management of the Lower Cotter Catchment, including $150 000 per annum for weeds management;

(h) the ACT Weeds Advisory Group meets twice a year; and

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