Dozens of organisations urge government to declare buffel grass a weed amid horror fire season

The Central Land Council is among 40 organisations across Australia urging the NT government to declare buffel grass a weed amid a horrific bushfire season.

The Central Land Council is among 40 organisations across the country calling on the NT government to declare buffel grass a weed amid the Territory’s worst bushfire season in a decade.

The organisations are calling for an immediate weed declaration to assist with the management of the invasive and highly flammable grass.

CLC general manager Josie Douglas said the declaration would be a “catalyst for action” and urged the NT government to follow in the footsteps of South Australia where it was declared a weed in 2015.

“We stand ready to develop a weed management plan with government agencies and the Traditional Owners we represent and to better protect country that is still intact,” she said.

“Buffel is not just a danger to our health, homes and critical infrastructure but threatens our sacred sites and is one of the main drivers of native species extinctions in Central Australia.

“Because it burns much hotter than native grasses it pushes our native plants and the animals that depend on them to the brink.”

Dozens of organisations are calling on the NT government to recognise buffel grass as an invasive weed and take action to protect native flora and fauna. Picture: Brooke Whatnall

In an open letter to NT Environment Minister Kate Worden, 39 other organisations across health, tourism, education, arts, media and land management including the Tjuwanpa Women’s Rangers, Arid Lands Environment Centre and Ernabella Arts added their voices to the CLC’s.

Senior Ranger Sonya Braybon warned that if left unchecked, buffel grass would continue to threaten native plants and animals.

“Buffel grass is killing our Country, we don’t see our bush foods anymore, the habitats for our native animals are threatened,” she said.

“Recently we watched bushfires jump big roads because it was travelling so hot and fast, it’s killing everything.”

The open letter will be tabled at the final meeting of the Buffel Grass Technical Working Group.

The CLC is a member of the group and has also sent a resolution outlining the council’s appeal to Ms Worden and her advisory group.