THE voices of landholders and councils have been listened to with changes once again made to the South East Natural Resources Management Board weed spraying services.
The latest decision comes just a day after an article was published in The Border Watch with comments from concerned landholders in the region.
State Environment Minister David Speirs has directed the South East Natural Resources Management Board to re-instate its weed spraying services just days after it dumped the long running contractual service.
Mr Speirs – who has just been in the role for three weeks – has made a “rare intervention” amid an outcry from landholders and councils.
This follows the SE NRM Board scrapping its long running weed spraying services last week and intending to sell associated equipment at auction.
Mr Speirs has also announced a looming shake-up of the NRM system with the government intending to repeal the NRM Act and replace it with a Landscape South Australia Act.
The SE NRM Board has come under fire in recent years from councils and landholders due to the skyrocketing and controversial NRM levy.
“I have written to the SE NRM Board requesting they reinstate fee-for-service weed spraying operations as soon as possible,” Mr Speirs said.
“I appreciate the board undertook detailed research before making its decision and it was looking to increase its focus on supporting landholders with advice and undertaking compliance.
“It is the State Government’s belief that governments should not provide services that can be better delivered by competitive enterprise and I acknowledge the board’s efforts to support regional businesses and the regional economy.”
But the environment minister said he had taken action to ensure the board’s contract weed control operations would continue to be available to landholders in the South East in areas where there was a market gap.
“Weed spraying is an example of the type of work boards should be doing as they get back to basics in serving their local communities,” he said.
NRM boards are responsible for the sustainable and integrated management of South Australia’s natural resources, as well as the development and delivery of regional NRM plans.
Mr Speirs said the Liberal Government had committed to give farmers, primary producers and landowners security and confidence by increasing their involvement in the delivery of natural resources management.
The government intends to repeal the NRM Act to focus on getting back to the basics of “soil quality, pest control and water management”.
Grant District Council chief executive officer Trevor Smart said council was delighted by the change of direction to reinstate SE NRM weed spraying services and was appreciative of the minister’s intervention.
“Council has continued to pursue this outcome over many months following the announcement by SENRM to discontinue such services,” Mr Smart said.
“We believe that an integrated and coordinated approach to weed control will benefit council, primary producers and landowners and is potentially a model that could be utilised for other areas within the state.
“This is a positive, common-sense outcome.”
Delighted by the swift decision, Mr Bell said the decision was good news for landholders and Grant District Council.
“I am pleased the new minister has listened to the community’s concerns and that my lobbying has paid off,” Mr Bell said.
The Independent MP said he supported the direction being taken by Mr Speirs on the NRM system.
“He will be a very good environment minister, he is a practical thinker,” Mr Bell said.
“That is what we need for these services.”
