HRWC communique December 2015

The newly formed Hunter Regional Weeds Committee came together for its inaugural meeting in Paterson on 8 December 2015. The new committee has been established by Hunter Local Land Services to coordinate the management of weeds in the region.

It comprises representatives from local government, government organisations, rural industry, Local Aboriginal Land Councils, environmental interest groups, Landcare and major public land managers.

The committee were briefed on the weed reform process from the review by the Natural Resources Commissions in 2014 through the NSW Government’s response and the establishment of the Regional Weeds Committee.

The committee learned about the different perspectives and relative priority of weeds from the members of the new committee. This outlined to members some of the strengths within the group and also some of the challenges, including resources, that implementing a new framework for weed management will entail.

The region can consider itself in a strong position having had an experienced and well organised weed management program in the past. The committee is intent on building on the strengths within the region.

The future of weed management comes under the new Biosecurity Act 2015 which is in the process of becoming operational. It will bring 14 pieces of biosecurity legislation together in a more coordinated framework.

The regulations to support the new Act are currently being developed. For more information please see: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurityact

The committee is supported by a team of technical officers from multiple agencies and local government. The committee has established a range of working groups to develop the planning documents required for the new committee.