Top End ‘under threat’ by gamba invasion says PEW NT

IT costs 27 times more to fight a gamba grass bushfire than it does to battle a blaze fuelled by native grass, say experts

PEW NT is calling on urgent action

IT costs 27 times more to fight a gamba grass bushfire than it does to battle a blaze fuelled by native grass, say experts.

Pew NT manager Mitch Hart said gamba fires also burnt up to nine times higher than native grass fires and could reach up to 13m into the tree canopy.

Mr Hart said there needed to be urgent investment in the eradication of gamba grass before it was too late.

“Early intervention efforts will save taxpayer money and reduce the risk that people right across the Top End face,” he said.

“The fires are going to be worse and worse unless we do something.”

MORE LIKE THIS

516 bushfires recorded in Greater Darwin area this year so far

Darwin smog sticking around — but not for long

Fireys furious new recruit squad has no Aboriginal members

Mr Hart said gamba burnt hotter and was harder to fight.

He said a gamba fire also needed about 15 times the resources to fight as a native fire, as ground crews struggled to get close to the fire front — and if they did they needed additional safety gear.

“The NT is losing the fight against gamba and more needs to be done,” Mr Hart said. “The real crisis would be if homes were wiped out, homes were lost.

“The entire Top End life is under threat.”

Berry Springs resident and volunteer firefighter Thong Sum Lee said the fire and smoke in the rural area was getting worse every year.

He’s lived in Berry Springs for 16 years.

“The radiant heat coming out from the gamba grass is just terrible, you have to be at least 20m away from the fire,” he said.

“I have problems with breathing and smoke inhalation, a running nose and coughing.”

Earlier this year, Mr Lee signed up to be a volunteer firefighter.

“The volunteers need help because we are under-resourced, we need vehicles that work to help keep the community safe,” he said.

Mr Lee said he also wanted all rural landowners to go through the volunteers’ course, to learn about how to protect their land and keep the area safe.