PEST WAR FUNDING: Western NSW Projects Offer Hope for Local Landholders

IN SHORT:

• $10 Million Boost: The Minns Government is investing $10 million through the Good Neighbours Program to fund 36 biosecurity projects statewide to fight invasive pests and weeds.
• Targeted Western NSW Action: New funding includes a key initiative for feral deer management in the Hillston-Euabalong area, with success expected to benefit neighbouring LGAs like Hay, Carrathool, and Balranald.
• Mandate for Collaboration: The program requires mandatory cooperation between private landholders and public land managers (like National Parks and LLS) to ensure effective, cross-boundary control of pests like wild dogs and boxing glove cactus.

The Minns Labor Government's $10 million Good Neighbours Program is injecting funds into the ongoing battle against invasive species, with new projects announced that hold significant relevance for communities in Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling LGAs.

The government has allocated $2.1 million across 17 new statewide projects targeting notorious pests and weeds like tropical soda apple, wild dogs, harrisia cactus, and feral deer. The funding, part of the government's broader biosecurity plan, is designed to protect primary industries and regional landscapes by mandating collaboration between public land managers and neighbouring private landholders.

Of the 17 new projects, a key initiative is directly relevant to the region:

Feral deer management in the Euabalong area in Western NSW: Local Land Services (LLS), in collaboration with public agencies and private landholders, will deliver a comprehensive pest management program. This program will target feral deer on public and private land in the Hillston-Euabalong area.

While Euabalong falls outside the immediate LGAs, the proximity to Carrathool and the wider Western NSW context means any success in controlling feral deer has the potential to lessen the pressure on surrounding properties. Feral deer are a growing concern for agriculture and biodiversity across the region.

Previous Successes in Western NSW

The new funding builds on the success of the program's first round, which saw $4.25 million allocated and already underway. A project in the far west has already demonstrated the program's reach:

Boxing Glove Control Program in Western NSW: This project has helped protect 55,903 hectares of private and public land in Sturt National Park and Tibooburra from boxing glove cactus through targeted weed control and the use of cochineal insects.

Furthermore, another new project announced aims to protect a major local asset:

Protecting the Ramsar values of Caryapundy Swamp near Tibooburra: LLS, in collaboration with public agencies and private landholders, will support the delivery of a multifaceted pest and weed management program aimed at preserving the biological diversity of the Ramsar listed Caryapundy Swamp.

Minister Emphasises Collaboration

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, reiterated the program’s focus on cross-boundary cooperation, a crucial element for vast Western NSW properties that border multiple types of public land.

“We know pest animals and weeds do not respect property boundaries, which is why the Minns Government is investing in a range of new and expanded on-ground biosecurity projects to protect farms lands and our environment through the Good Neighbours Program,” Minister Moriarty said.

“These projects support public and private land managers to work together to prevent the spread of pests and weeds because we can only make headway by collaborating. We are already seeing positive results from these collaborative efforts, including stronger relationships between landholders and land managers, which we will continue to build on as the latest projects get underway. The latest projects continue the important work already underway which is showing success. There is action addressing target problem pests and weeds, such as feral pigs, deer, tropical soda apple and Hudson pear.”

The commitment is part of the Minns Government’s biosecurity plan, which will ultimately deliver a total of 36 projects across NSW via the Good Neighbours Program. The focus is on coordinated pest animal and weed control programs, alongside capacity-building workshops and training for landholders and land managers. These will be delivered in partnership with public land managers such as Forestry Corporation, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Crown Land, and local councils.