Territory residents demand Gamba action in new video

Residents from locations such as Palmerston and Adelaide River have today called on the Northern Territory Government to urgently invest in tackling the threat from gamba grass.

The concerns have been released today in a video by the community group Gamba Grass Roots, who raise awareness of the threat posed by gamba grass to homes, communities and industries in the Northern Territory.

The video can be viewed here:

Jan Hills is a Veterinarian who spends her time between Adelaide River and Stuart Park. These days she spends a lot of her time at Pell Mell, a unique WWII site at Pell airstrip.

“I’ve seen first hand how out of control gamba has become, and I’m extremely worried about gamba infestations just up the road in Ludmilla and in the northern suburbs,” she said.

“Without increased action soon we will see our northern savanna totally transformed into a gamba wasteland. It’s time for action.”

Geoff Martin lives in Palmerston and spends his spare time supporting local efforts across the Top End to stop the spread of gamba.

“Gamba is no longer just a rural issue, but a threat to everyone in and around Darwin and Palmerston as well. Just up the road in Zuccoli last year, I’ve seen how bad gamba fueled fires can be and how they can threaten our homes,” he said.

“Communities need more support. It’s time for politicians to outline their plans to reduce this risk to homes before it’s too late.”

Mitch Hart from the Pew Charitable Trusts, who support the Gamba Grass Roots alliance, said that the number of concerned Territorians was growing.

“As we approach another fire season, we’re seeing more people like Jan and Geoff who are raising very real concerns about the safety of their properties, their homes and their families. Communities are crying out for increased action,” he said.

“We need to see real commitment from all political parties, followed up with genuine action – we can tackle the issue of gamba grass now, before the threat of another gamba-fuelled dry comes around again.”

Gamba Grass Roots will be running TV ads highlighting the need to act on gamba over the coming months.