Eradication program sets the trend

The future of gorse elimination is looking bright after WA became the first State to sign an historic 25-year Memorandum of Understanding to eradicate the invasive weed in Albany on Monday.

Picture by Laurie Benson: DAFWA invasive species director Viv Read, National Gorse Taskforce chairman Ian Sauer and Department of Agriculture weed control scientist John Moore with gorse spray trials near Oyster Harbour.

National Gorse Taskforce chairman Ian Sauer travelled from Tasmania to hand over the memorandum to Department of Agriculture and Food WA invasive species director Viv Read.

Mr Sauer said the memorandum would put WA at the forefront of efforts to eradicate gorse, which was introduced as a hedgerow to contain livestock shortly after colonisation.

It now covers more than 23 million hectares of land in southern Australia.

“WA is setting a national benchmark in taking over ultimate responsibility for efforts to eradicate gorse,” Mr Sauer said.

“If other States follow this template, weed management in Australia would be a darn sight better … you do it well here in WA.”

South Coast Natural Resource Management chief executive Rob Edkins said the organisation had worked with the National Gorse Taskforce to initiate the eradication of gorse in WA over the past three years.

“Gorse eradication is well underway with 95 per cent of infestations in WA having been managed,” he said.

“Our ongoing challenge is following up on these achievements because gorse seed can remain viable in the ground for decades,” he said.

Mr Sauer credited the enthusiasm of DAFWA, South Coast NRM and local Landcare groups with bringing the memorandum to fruition.

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