Ms O’CONNOR – I will ask one more question about biosecurity threats to the TWWHA. Obviously, there’s been a long-standing concern about Phytophthora, there’s the threat of introduced pathogens in the TWWHA as in New Zealand not long ago you can see all through the rivers and it would be pretty easy for someone to bring that over on their shoes despite our bio security precautions. Do we have an update on current biosecurity risk in the TWWHA?
Mr DUIGAN – I will seek to engage the experts here if there’s somebody with good information there.
Ms MULLER – We have a small TWWHA biosecurity team who do amazing work. They have been in place for a couple of years, and they are delivering on the TWHHA biosecurity plan. That includes undertaking high priority weed control at a number of locations in the TWHHA including the upper Mersey Valley, Lake Mackenzie, Mount Field and the Southwest National Park.
This work includes developing weed treatment plans, building capacity within the broader parks operations to effectively manage biosecurity risks. Importantly, the team is both developing projects and delivering them but also working across operations to build capacity as well to undertake a range of work in weed management.
But also, in addition to that, that team has been involved in contributing to the eradication efforts in the central plateau conservation area in terms of deer management and the program of work that’s been delivered over the last three years in that area.
The team also will continue to have a focus on invasive species such as priority weeds, feral cats and deer with the assistance of a $400,000 Australian Heritage Grant for protecting the TWHHA through management of invasive species. That a project over two years.
In addition, the team has got a strong focus on working collaboratively with stakeholders, and adjacent property owners to the TWHHA to sort of partner, build capacity and work collaboratively on projects.
Ms O’CONNOR – It’s probably patchy and variable in terms of its success, but in New Zealand, for example, before you go into certain areas. The infrastructure there for hygiene in parks is pretty good. The horse is bolted in some ways, but here are you satisfied, minister, that we have that kind of protective infrastructure in place?
Mr DUIGAN – Not being an expert in the space, I would need to perhaps defer to my department to see whether they had a level of comfort or thought there were improvements that could be made.
Ms MULLER – The team has a combination of still delivering projects, but also delivering really practical guidance to teams on the management of things like boot hygiene. In terms of whether we have the infrastructure in place, we certainly do in some places, but we are always keen to hear about other jurisdictions that are doing things well and open to learning from others.
