❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Minister for Environment regarding the Community Environment Grants Program, its cessation, and weed control in national parks. The Minister responds, clarifying the program's conclusion and ongoing weed management strategies.
AnsweredQoN 595Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT GRANTS PROGRAM
595. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
(1) Has the
minister estimated the value of the work by the numerous community groups and
volunteers who managed lands with funds from the community environment grants
program?
(2) If yes to (1), why was their
funding abolished?
(3) How does the
government intend to conserve the lands that numerous groups and volunteers
managed now that funds are no longer available?
(4) How does the government intend
to address the increasing problem of weeds in national parks?
(5) What key
performance indicators are in place to ensure that work is done to address the
problem of weeds in national parks?
595. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
(1) Has the
minister estimated the value of the work by the numerous community groups and
volunteers who managed lands with funds from the community environment grants
program?
(2) If yes to (1), why was their
funding abolished?
(3) How does the
government intend to conserve the lands that numerous groups and volunteers
managed now that funds are no longer available?
(4) How does the government intend
to address the increasing problem of weeds in national parks?
(5) What key
performance indicators are in place to ensure that work is done to address the
problem of weeds in national parks?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) No. The
funding only supports a portion of the works undertaken by the groups and
individuals involved.
(2) Funding was not abolished. A successful four-year program
came to its conclusion.
(3) The
Department of Parks and Wildlife will continue to manage conservation lands
with the assistance of the over 3 800 volunteers who assist in caring for
conservation areas.
(4) The
Department of Parks and Wildlife controls weeds as part of its commitment to
conserving Western Australia's biodiversity and also as a good
neighbour to adjoining landholders. The Department of Parks and Wildlife is
responsible for the management of about 26 million hectares of lands and 2.3 million
hectares of waters in WA. The Department of Parks and Wildlife is also
responsible for the on-ground management of fire preparedness, feral animal
control and weed control on about 89 million hectares of non-metropolitan,
non-townsite unallocated crown land and unmanaged reserves. The Department of
Parks and Wildlife recognises that it is not possible to control all weeds
across the lands it manages and has developed an environmental weed
prioritisation process for the 1 350 recognised environmental weed species.
This prioritisation process is used to identify and manage those infestations
that are considered to have a high environmental impact and where eradication
or control is feasible. The Department of Parks and Wildlife also targets weed
species that are expected to have an adverse impact on high conservation values
such as threatened species and communities. The Department of Parks and
Wildlife determines the level of control based on resources and competing
priorities. The Department of Parks and Wildlife works with the Department of
Agriculture and Food, landholders and others in the control of weeds. A range
of weed control programs are undertaken on Department of Parks and Wildlife
managed lands, including national parks.
(5) Performance
indicators for weed control programs on Department of Parks and Wildlife–managed
lands vary depending on the location, nature of weed infestations and the
management objective. Management objectives may relate to preventing the
introduction of new weeds, the eradication of existing infestations or the
containment and ongoing management of existing infestations.
question.
(1) No. The
funding only supports a portion of the works undertaken by the groups and
individuals involved.
(2) Funding was not abolished. A successful four-year program
came to its conclusion.
(3) The
Department of Parks and Wildlife will continue to manage conservation lands
with the assistance of the over 3 800 volunteers who assist in caring for
conservation areas.
(4) The
Department of Parks and Wildlife controls weeds as part of its commitment to
conserving Western Australia's biodiversity and also as a good
neighbour to adjoining landholders. The Department of Parks and Wildlife is
responsible for the management of about 26 million hectares of lands and 2.3 million
hectares of waters in WA. The Department of Parks and Wildlife is also
responsible for the on-ground management of fire preparedness, feral animal
control and weed control on about 89 million hectares of non-metropolitan,
non-townsite unallocated crown land and unmanaged reserves. The Department of
Parks and Wildlife recognises that it is not possible to control all weeds
across the lands it manages and has developed an environmental weed
prioritisation process for the 1 350 recognised environmental weed species.
This prioritisation process is used to identify and manage those infestations
that are considered to have a high environmental impact and where eradication
or control is feasible. The Department of Parks and Wildlife also targets weed
species that are expected to have an adverse impact on high conservation values
such as threatened species and communities. The Department of Parks and
Wildlife determines the level of control based on resources and competing
priorities. The Department of Parks and Wildlife works with the Department of
Agriculture and Food, landholders and others in the control of weeds. A range
of weed control programs are undertaken on Department of Parks and Wildlife
managed lands, including national parks.
(5) Performance
indicators for weed control programs on Department of Parks and Wildlife–managed
lands vary depending on the location, nature of weed infestations and the
management objective. Management objectives may relate to preventing the
introduction of new weeds, the eradication of existing infestations or the
containment and ongoing management of existing infestations.
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