❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses a skeleton weed outbreak in a metropolitan market garden, inquiring about containment measures and search efforts. The Minister acknowledges the concern and outlines actions being taken by the Agriculture Protection Board.
AnsweredQoN 1701Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Given the recent discovery of skeleton weed in a market garden in the metropolitan area, I ask - (1) Can the minister inform the House of measures being taken to ensure this outbreak is confined to only this specific market garden? (2) Are Agriculture Protection Board officers conducting an intensive search of surrounding land up to one kilometre in diameter from the outbreak site? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
(1) Can the minister inform the House of measures being taken to ensure this outbreak is confined to only this specific market garden? (2) Are Agriculture Protection Board officers conducting an intensive search of surrounding land up to one kilometre in diameter from the outbreak site? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
(2) Are Agriculture Protection Board officers conducting an intensive search of surrounding land up to one kilometre in diameter from the outbreak site? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
(1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
(2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
(1) Can the minister inform the House of measures being taken to ensure this outbreak is confined to only this specific market garden? (2) Are Agriculture Protection Board officers conducting an intensive search of surrounding land up to one kilometre in diameter from the outbreak site? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
(2) Are Agriculture Protection Board officers conducting an intensive search of surrounding land up to one kilometre in diameter from the outbreak site? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question. (1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
(1) The find referred to by the member was indeed a concerning find. I understand it is an area in which skeleton weed is known to have existed previously, but which had been spread quite prolifically through the area inadvertently by the rotary hoeing of the area, which spread root fragments throughout the entire block of land in question. The process that is triggered by a discovery of this nature is that the APB devotes quite extensive resources first to prevent the skeleton weed setting and distributing its seed. I understand there are about 1 000 plants, each of which are capable of striking seed at the rate of about 10 000 per plant, so the potential for infestation is quite enormous. Although the skeleton weed had flowered, it had not yet set seed and can be contained. That will be taking place at this very moment and, of course, once the initial knockdown and removal has occurred, a frequent monitoring program will be put in place for that area. (2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
(2) An intensive search of the area is clearly necessary, as the skeleton weed in question did set seed last year and it is likely that in an area of 1 000 metres, as specified by the honourable member, infestation will have occurred which will have to be found.
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