The Namoi River within the Narrabri Shire Council boundaries has been found free of one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds.
Council recently inspected a 290 kilometre section of the River, from the Gunnedah Shire boundary to the Walgett Shire boundary, and did not identify any Alligator Weed.
The project was funded by North West Local Land Services (NWLLS) and has involved Weed Officers from Tamworth, Gunnedah, Moree, Narrabri and Liverpool Shire Councils, as well as officers from the NWLLS.
Narrabri Shire Council’s Senior Weed Officer, Clare Felton-Taylor, said it was a significant project.
“This has been a mammoth effort and we would really like to thank all the land owners and managers along the Namoi river who have willingly let us onto their properties to search the river for Alligator Weed, the cooperation has been much appreciated,” she said.
“Although there have been no sightings of Alligator Weed it is important that we don’t underestimate its tenacity and remain vigilant as it could still be out there undetected. We ask that all property owners and water uses of the Namoi still keep a “good eye” on their patch and report any unusual weeds growing on dams or rivers, and contact local Weeds Officers should they have any concerns.”
Alligator Weed has been found both in the Peel and in the Namoi River iaround Gunnedah. Inspections completed early in the year showed that there was a significant reduction in the number of Alligator Weed infestations in those areas.
Clare Felton-Taylor said this gave local Weeds Officers confidence that they are winning the war against the world’s worst aquatic weed.
“Inspections of the Namoi and Peel Rivers in the first quarter of this year had turned up less than half the number of sites found around the same time last year,” she explained.
“Even with the excellent growing conditions and record irrigation flows in the Namoi River, the number of new infestations found had dropped from over thirty in 2013 to around sixteen this year, a very pleasing result for all involved. Although we still have quite a job ahead of us over the next few years, this result has left us feeling we’re on the right track”.
All infestations identified were sprayed or physically removed with reinspections scheduled for the latter part of this year.