Page 1023 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018
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(4) As the Chinese Elm is often planted as a bird-attractor and is a feeder plant for rosellas and other parrots, are there other local native trees with a similar build/shape to the Chinese Elm that also act as a feeder to parrots.
(5) Has the Directorate provided advice to garden nurseries on prioritising local native trees over non-endemic species.
Mr Gentleman: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Plants declared as pest plants in the ACT are listed in the Pest Plants and Animals (Pest Plants) Declaration 2015 (No 1) which is available to the public on the ACT Legislation Register at: http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2015-59/current/pdf/2015-59.pdf. This list provides guidance to nurseries. Species categorised as prohibited in this list cannot be sold or otherwise supplied.
(2) Invasive tree species with the status of ‘notifiable’, ‘must be suppressed’, ‘must be contained’ or ‘prohibited’ are listed in the Pest Plants and Animals (Pest Plants) Declaration 2015 (No 1) at http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2015-59/current/pdf/2015-59.pdf.
(3) Whilst the Chinese Elm has naturalised in places, it has not displayed the characteristics of a serious invasive plant. Therefore it is a lower priority for action with regard to controlling its sale and is not currently a declared pest plant. The Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate will investigate whether suitable sterile cultivars are available for landscape planting in the ACT. If suitable sterile cultivars are available, the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate may consider proposing declaration of non-sterile cultivars of Chinese Elm as prohibited pest plants.
(4) Yes. Local wattles, eucalypts, kurrajongs, river she oaks and native cypress pines are all examples of bird attractors.
(5) Information is made available to plant nurseries on suitable plants to grow in the ACT through the Grow Me Instead Program. Grow Me Instead (GMI) is an initiative of the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) promoting a positive change in the attitude of both industry and consumers toward invasive plants. Details of the program specific to the ACT can be found at http://www.growmeinstead.com.au/public/GMI-brochure-ACT-High-Country.pdf.
The ACT Government is also participating in a new program called PlantSure. PlantSure is an initiative of the Nursery and Garden Industry Association of NSW and ACT and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. The program will be identifying garden plants that should no longer be sold because they are invasive plants. Non-invasive alternatives will be recommended as part of the program and will include local native tree species.
Domestic Animal Services—rangers
(Question No 907)
Ms Le Couteur asked the Minister for Transport and City Services, upon notice, on 16 February 2018:
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