The introduced pasture gamba grass ( Andropogon gayanus)
, is now the subject of a new management guide from the Northern
Territory. The NT Department of Natural Resources, Environment and
the Arts (NRETA) has developed the guide as a tool for all land
managers to help identify and manage the grass. It provides a
four-step approach to managing gamba to either eradicate it,
prevent its spread, or use it as a pasture.
The guide explains how to assess the situation, develop and
implement plans and monitor and review. The guide also has photos
to help identify gamba throughout its life cycle.
NRETA is leading a joint initiative in collaboration with the
Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Mines and Charles
Darwin University to develop a Weed Risk Assessment System for the
entire Territory.
Currently gamba grass is not a declared weed in the NT or
Queensland, but in the NT it is being tested under the draft model
WRA to be considered for declaration under the Weeds Act. The Weed
Management Branch of NRETA is also undertaking community education
and awareness of the environmental impacts of gamba and ways to
identify and manage the grass species.
In Queensland, where the grass was recently identified in
Queensland’s Burdekin region, a preliminary assessment has
been done and is currently under consideration by
Queensland’s Dept. Natural Resources, Mines and Water.
The Gamba Management Guide is available from the website link
below or:
Tel: (08) 8999 2020 (Darwin office) or
Tel: (08) 8973 8107 (Katherine office).
Links
Draft weed management plan for Gamba Grass
www.nt.gov.au/nreta/natres/weeds/find/gamba/pdf/draft_weedmgmtplan.pdf
The Northern Territory Government has released its draft Weed Management Plan for Gamba Grass (Andropogan gayanus).
The draft Plan has been developed with extensive stakeholder consultation and forms part of a strategic approach to gamba grass management in the Northern Territory. It establishes the objectives and outcomes to be achieved by land holders and land managers, and the minimum actions to be taken to achieve these outcomes.
