The battle to contain noxious fireweed south of Narooma has young workers from the Eurobodalla Green Army joining the ranks of landowners already dedicated to the fight.
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The group of workers on Thursday spread out over the back paddocks of Nestlebrae Farm, located off Old South Coast Road, picking and bagging the fireweed for destruction.
It’s the farm of John Burbidge, now managed by his son-in-law to be Aaron Whiffen. Mr Burbidge said he has picked fireweed on the 130-acre property ever since he first noticed it and now those efforts have been stepped up with a flock of 56 dorper sheep that just love to munch on the noxious weed.
“They do keep it down, grazing on all of the plant and sometimes pulling the whole plant out by the roots, which is great,” Mr Whiffen said.
Sturdy fences were however required and the flock could pretty much graze down the fireweed in one large paddock in as little as three weeks, but in the meantime he was very grateful to have the Green Army helping.
Tilba and South Narooma Landcare Group president Robert Dunn was instrumental in getting the Green Army to join the battle by convincing Eurobodalla Council’s environment team and also the South East Local Land Services to get the workers picking.
Mr Dunn said he selected Nestlebrae as the first fireweed target for the Green Army as the owners had done just a terrific job trying to stay on top of it and it was great too see a young person such as Mr Whiffen, aged 35, as committed as some of the old-time farmers.
“The message to young people coming in is that you can do something,” Mr Dunn said. “The old time dairy farmers have put in a lot of work, now we just have to hold the line until the bug arrives.”
He was referring to the biological control agent in the form of a weed-eating weevil native to Madagascar that is earmarked to be tested for suitability in Australia.
Mr Dunn also plans to take a delegation to Canberra in the near future to meet with Federal Member Mike Kelly and Assistant Minister for Agriculture Anne Ruston, in attempt to convince them to release more Green Army workers onto the fireweed battle.
He has several fireweed affected properties in the Tilba and Mystery Bay areas in mind for future Green Army missions.
The Narooma News last month profiled another old-time farmer Merrick Willcocks who has taken on fireweed. Mr Willcocks and Mr Burbidge are both 84 years old, went to primary school together in Narooma and both share a passion for the land.
“As I grew up on a dairy farm at Bodalla, I wanted to start and end my life on a farm,” Mr Burbidge said.
He was very impressed with the Green Army and said he would like to see more people doing the environmental work and possibly securing a future for themselves.
Green Army coordinator for the Eurobodalla, Damon Lane said the participants gained practical experience in environmental management and also did modules in conservation land management through TAFE.
The federally funded program had seen the participants undertake weed control work, erosion control and planting throughout the Eurobodalla, often on council reserves.
Their services were also available to other Landcare and neighbourhood groups, and anyone interested in having the Green Army do work on their patch just needs to contact the environment team at the Eurobodalla Council.
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Stan Gorton
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
