Prickly acacia control at Home Hill

Home Hill has been identified as a ‘hot spot’ for prickly acacia in the Blueprint for the Bush Pest Initiative and has been identified as a priority weed in the Burdekin Shire Council Pest Management Plan . This project aims to remove a substantial proportion of a prickly acacia infestation in the Home Hill area. The target area covers approximately 1500 ha on 2 adjoining properties; Inkerman Station (700 hectares) and Glen Yarra (800 hectares). The waterways in the target area currently serve to transport the seed downstream and ultimately to the ocean which then allows for the tidal influence to introduce the seed into previously ‘clean’ areas.

Both participating land managers have current Pest Management Plans with the Burdekin Shire Council. Previous woody weed control has been undertaken on these properties by the landholders, including:

• Eliminating stock from large infested areas
• Developing an annually increasing buffer around the large infestation through the mechanical removal of weeds and consistent follow up with chemical spray
• Introduction of camels to ‘open’ the area up so as to be more accessible and control regrowth

This project seeks to build on this work in the following ways:

• By removing large areas of prickly acacia to enable the problem to become more manageable and prevent reinfestation.
• Creating a coordinated effort between the 2 neighbours which will allow for greater impact on the problem. This also shows strong commitment by the land managers to tackle the problem.
• An integrated strategy with support from Burdekin Shire Council and Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM Board and State Government, and support from Greening Australia, reinforces the strategic importance woody weed control on a catchment basis to achieve long term control of large infestations and improve the sustainability of valuable grazing enterprises.

In addition, Townsville City Council, City of Thuringowa and Burdekin Shire Council will be undertaking inspections and mapping of the shire/city areas to locate any isolated infestations. A control program will be undertaken to eradicate these isolated infestations with the landholders. This whole project will eradicate a large portion of the prickly acacia infestation from the Burdekin Dry Tropics region and prevent any reinfestation.

Project update:

T his project is not yet operational.

Key references

Burdekin Shire Council Pest Management Plan