New plan puts gamba burden squarely on shoulders of small landholders
On Monday, the Northern Territory Government released the Weed Management Plan for Gamba Grass 2018, replacing the previous 2014 version. The plan outlines the action landholders will need to take to eradicate or control gamba on their properties, depending on where they live.
This plan has the burden of gamba management falling squarely on the shoulders of Territorians on smaller blocks, who are threatened with fines if they don’t comply.
While it goes without saying that landholders on small properties need to be vigilant about gamba and fulfilling their responsibilities on their properties, this effort alone will not come close to achieving the plan’s objectives.
The goals set out in the plan, which include targets for controlling and reducing (Zone B) and eradicating (Zone A) gamba grass are commendable – but as always, the devil is in the detail.
What we really need to see is a big step up in government’s commitment to tackling the issue:
- We need to see new Government funds being committed to tackling gamba.
- We need practical steps from Government on how they can ramp up support for landholders and neighbours who want to do the right thing.
- We need transparency about how Government plans to uphold their end of the bargain by reducing gamba from public land and iconic parks like Litchfield National Park.
Without these further actions, the important work outlined in this plan will not be matched with on-ground results and we still face a future of dangerous fires and the destruction of our magnificent Top End landscapes.
Our petition calls for more action from our Government on gamba at all levels. Please sign it if you haven’t and share it with your networks today.