The battle against invasive arum lilies in our region received a major shot in the arm thanks to WA Government funding totalling $368,000 over the next three years.
The funding – for Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s Arum Lily Blitz – means landholders will continue to receive free support and herbicide to control the toxic South African weeds.
“We are really pleased that the State Government recognises the need for a long-term approach to arum lily management through funding the Arum Lily Blitz for a further three years,” said Blitz coordinator Genevieve Hanran-Smith. “The Blitz is a 30+ year vision and although considerable progress has been made over the last six years, a strong push is needed to bring unengaged landholders on board and to normalise arum lily control as a land management action that all landholders undertake.”
Arum Lily Blitz coordinator Genevieve Hanran-Smith
Genevieve added: “The funding will enable Nature Conservation to continue driving the need for arum lily control in our beautiful region including engaging and support landholders and community groups, and partnerships with DBCA, local government, Main Roads and the Capes Foundation.”
She also said additional activities will be carried out through this new round of funding, which is administered by the WA State Nature Resources Management Program. “That includes mapping using the Fieldbook app to ensure we are undertaking the best strategic control to protect good quality vegetation, surveying our community to better understand how we can involve and support landholders, and targeting areas not currently engaged with the Blitz,” she said.
More than 50 community-based groups across Western Australia shared in $7.73 million from the Cook Government for projects which protect and restore the local environment.
A total of 54 Community Stewardship Grants have been awarded for a wide range of projects including waterway and catchment rehabilitation, priority weed management, fostering traditional ecological knowledge sharing, cultural fire management, dieback management, coast care and protection, and recovery of wildlife.
The grants recognise the knowledge, volunteer efforts and strong partnerships within local communities to support the sustainable management of WA’s natural resources.
Now in its sixth year, the Arum Lily Blitz coordinates government agencies, community groups and landholders against the threat of arum lilies, while also supplying free herbicide and training to landholders. More than 2100 landholders are now signed up to the Blitz and arum lilies are being controlled over more than 24,000 hectares in the Margaret River region.
Arum lilies are a South African weed, and the species is so devastating in the Margaret River region because it outcompetes native flora, reduces habitat and food availability for wildlife, and replaces native plants with a dense, toxic monoculture. Arum lilies start appearing in winter and flower in spring. For landholders on larger properties who cannot deal with arum lily infestations on their own, Nature Conservation’s Bush Regeneration Team can be hired to carry out arum control.
Free herbicide can be collected from the Nature Conservation office as well as from supporting businesses Busselton Agricultural Services, Pendrey Rural Supplies, Dunsborough Rural, Vasse General Store, Cowaramup Agencies, Karridale Agencies and True Value Hardware in Augusta.
See www.natureconservation.org.au to find out more, register, and receive free herbicide, information and resources.