Page 1650 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 April 2011
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(1) A Weed Risk Assessment, undertaken by the ACT Weeds Advisory Group, considers the invasiveness, environmental impact and potential distribution of the weed. The ACT Weeds Advisory Group is a technical panel comprising a Horticulturalist, Ecologists and Park Rangers.
Potential new weed incursions are listed as ‘notifiable’ (Category 1) to ensure a prompt response to their control when they are initially detected in the ACT. ‘Must be suppressed’ (Category 2) environmental weeds or pest plants need to be controlled until they are rare or absent. However, for some species this is unfeasible due to their high rates of spread and the ease with which
re-infestation takes place. These species are included in the ‘Must be contained’ (Category 3) listing. If an environmental weed is likely to be sold or propagated, it may also be listed as ‘Prohibited’ (Category 4).
(2) None.
(3) None.
(4) The ACT Weeds Advisory Group assesses whether new weeds need to be included on the lists or when existing listings need to be reviewed.
(5) Two weeds have been added to the list or Schedule of Pest Plants since commencement of the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005 was enacted. They are Mexican Feather Grass (Category 1 and 4 listing), and African Fountain Grass (Category 1 and 4 listing).
(6) Some plants such as Cotoneaster are listed as ‘Prohibited’. These are common in the urban backyards of older suburbs. The ACT Government runs the Weed Swap awareness program twice a year. It offers free replacement plants if householders remove weeds like Cotoneaster from their gardens and raises awareness of the environmental impact of some exotic garden plants.
(7) Weed control priorities, including the treatment of prohibited plants, are largely determined by the annual Environmental Weed Control Operations Plan (EWOP). The EWOP is produced annually by the ACT Parks & Conservation Service (formerly PCL) after consultation with the ACT Weeds Working Group. All factors are considered in setting out the priorities for treatment and ensuring that the best use is made of available resources. Weeds with the greatest environmental danger ratings that are invading high conservation value areas receive top priority.
Waste—recycling
(Question No 1595)
Ms Le Couteur asked the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, upon notice, on 10 March 2011:
(1) What is the number, or the estimated number, of compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs) and domestic batteries that are unrecycled in the ACT and that currently enter landfill, in terms of (a) raw numbers and (b) percentage of overall batteries/CFLs.
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