A HIGH-THREAT environmental weed could pose a significant risk to Northern Victoria if left unchecked.
Conservationists are concerned that fires fuelled by buffel grass could become a reality in our state if we are complacent.
Friends of Mallee Conservation spokesperson Fiona Murdoch said small roadside infestations of the noxious weed are known to occur in Mildura and Swan Hill Rural City Council areas, primarily along major transport routes.
“It has devastating impacts on land and biodiversity and negatively affects tourism, agriculture and community safety,” Dr Murdoch said.
“Fires currently burning across the Northern Territory, like those threatening Alice Springs, are fuelled by buffel grass.
“Invasive grasses including buffel grass were responsible for the fire that engulfed the island of Maui, Hawaii in August this year. That resulted in the loss of 97 lives.
“If we can prevent buffel grass from establishing in Victoria we will make an immense difference to the environment and prevent the buffel-fuelled fires we are seeing elsewhere.
“This is a battle we can and must win.”
To aid in the fight, Friends of Mallee Conservation has released a three-dimensional model of buffel grass to help Victorians identify the weed.
Alongside the model is an information pack on how to identify and control buffel grass and how to report observations.
Small infestations can be manually removed and double-bagged, while large infestations can be reported through various monitored apps including iNaturalist, Snap Send Solve and the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas.
“We are fortunate that to date, our land managers in northern Victoria are alert and have so far acted decisively to treat infestations of buffel grass on the land they manage,” Dr Murdoch said.
“Mildura Rural City Council, Department of Transport, Mallee CMA, Parks Victoria, Swan Hill Rural City Council and Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Actions have all responded favourably to the search-and-destroy approach for buffel grass.
“Buffel grass is most obvious in the warmer months, particularly following summer rains. Now is the time to be on the lookout for this weed.”
More information can be found at www.malleeconservation.com.au
