Labor, CLP and Territory Alliance have revealed their gamba grass policy

THE three main political party’s vying to form the next NT government have each released their policies on how to fight the highly flammable noxious species

Emergency Services and Landholders struggle with a large Gamba Grass fire that jumped containment lines and hit a Mango plantation in Humpty Doo Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

THE three main political party’s vying to form the next NT government have each released their policies on how to fight the highly flammable noxious species.

The grass poses a significant fire risk for the Darwin rural area and resident fear it could be the cause of extremely dangerous bushfires if it continues to spread unchecked.

It was brought into the NT as cattle feed in the 1930s

Here how each party plan to eradicate gamba grass.

THE CLP

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said a CLP government would “work to eradicate” the invasive weed from the NT by:

EMPOWERING and resourcing” the Weeds Branch of the Department of Environment to develop and oversee a comprehensive crown land eradication plan.

WORKING with private landholders to ensure they are up to speed with Gamba grass management and supported with equipment and herbicide.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro with Gamba Grass Roots Alliance volunteer Tiana Bremner. Picture: Supplied

FORMING a “Gamba Management Network” consisting of local government, Aboriginal rangers, environmental organisations and other community groups.

The CLP says it can implement the policy “within the current budget” of the department by repurposing resources. Gamba grass is a declared ‘weed of national significance’ that is incredibly destructive because it burns much hotter than native grasses and increases the fuel load per hectare from two to three tonnes to 30 tonnes.

NT LABOR

THE fight to eradicate gamba grass from the Northern Territory received a welcome boost yesterday, with $500,000 allocated for the establishment of a gamba army to be deployed to mitigate the weed across the Top End.

Environment Minister Eva Lawler said the army, which will create 45 new jobs, would help attack gamba grass across the 1.5 million hectares of land it occupied and prevent further spread.

Environment Minister Eva Lawler and candidate for Daly Anthony Venes inspect gamba grass near the Strauss airfield. Picture: Will Zwar

“It will be about putting in place people who then have the equipment, have the training to clear the gamba grass, spray the grass, attack the gamba grass wherever it is in those identified areas,” she said.

“We know that more action is needed to mitigate and eradicate gamba grass, and that is what we are doing through a co-ordinated and targeted approach.”

The program will also contribute $50,000 in dollar-for-dollar Fire Mitigation Assistance vouchers valued up to $500 to rural landholders to reinforce firebreaks and gamba grass fuel loads on their property.

TERRITORY ALLIANCE

Party leader Terry Mills announced Territory Alliance would spend $20 million across four years to battle the scourge of the pest weed.

The plan, funded by reprioritising cash within the existing Environment budget, would be led by a commissioner that answers to the chief minister’s department.

The commissioner would be supported by a task force to “co-ordinate a community-led approach” to the control of gamba grass in the Territory.

Territory Alliance candidates Rachael Wright (Goyder), Andy Harley (Nelson), Terry Mills (Blain) with some Gamba grass. Picture: Madura McCormack

Mr Mills said that by the NT government taking gamba grass seriously, the Federal Government would be pushed to act and increase their financial share toward controlling the issue.

Territory Alliance candidate for Nelson Andy Harley, a volunteer firefighter, said it was normal to see fire trucks driving around with “melted mirrors” due to the heat of gamba grass that can reach up to 1000C compared to the 350C of normal grass.