Page 340 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 2018

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reserves, have more resources allocated to this species. Biological control has been very effective in reducing the extent of Paterson's curse, which use to blanket Canberra hill sides.

b) In 2017-18, there will be approximately 2,100 ha of St John's wort control across 46 sites, focusing on where it is encroaching on wildflower areas and to protect neighbouring grazing properties.

(4) The Biosecurity alert list on the EPSDD website is for high risk new and emerging weeds, not for established high risk weeds. The Invasive Weeds (Invasive Plants) Operations Plan which can be accessed from the Biosecurity-Invasive Plants section of the web site lists the methodology for determining weed risks and feasibility of coordinated control. This methodology and the prioritised list of projects for 2017-18 are listed in the plan at: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1076385/2017-18-Invasive-Weeds-Operations-Plan.pdf

(5) Complete figures for expenditure directed in the first six months of the current financial year to the control of invasive weeds in ACT public areas are not yet available. However an estimate is available based on completed work and projects in progress:

a) Canberra Nature Park nature reserves, urban native grasslands, Murrumbidgee River Corridor nature reserves, Namadgi National Park, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Googong Foreshore: Invasive weeds expenditure $474,000.

b) Offset reserves, Lower Cotter and Molonglo River Reserve: Invasive weeds expenditure $142,000.

Note that expenditure on weed control is highly seasonal and depends on a number of climatic variables.

(6) The NSW Weed Risk Management System is used to help set priorities in the Invasive Weeds (Invasive Plants) Operations Plan. The plan is produced annually but the weed risk management system is only updated on an ad-hoc basis by NSW.

Questions without notice taken on notice

Environment—nature strip guidelines

Ms Fitzharris (in reply to a question by Ms Le Couteur on Wednesday, 25 October 2017):

The guidelines will be finalised and made publicly available after the ACAT decision is made and any implications for the content of the guidelines have been considered.

Planning—lease variations

Mr Gentleman (in reply to a question and a supplementary question by Mr Coe on Wednesday, 1 November 2017):


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