GRANT District Council has foreshadowed it will undertake weed spraying activities amid the region’s environmental body planning to dump its fee-for-service operations by the end of March.
The decision by the South East Natural Resources Management Board has sparked a backlash from the local government body and farming community.
Fears have been raised the situation could lead to a resurgence of damaging weeds across the region.
Council has also raised frustrations the board is planning to dispose of surplus plant and machinery through a tender process.
This is despite regional councils gifting machinery to the board for these activities some years ago.
At council’s full meeting last week, elected members agreed to engage a contractor to undertake roadside spraying and utilise existing staff for other spraying.
A review of this arrangement will be made before the 2020/21 financial year.
Speaking at the meeting last week, Grant District Mayor Richard Sage said spraying was formerly undertaken by the South East Animal and Plant Control Board.
He said these duties were transferred over to the SE NRM Board.
“We (councils) gave them a brand new truck – it was completely ready to go for spraying – and a Landcruiser and other equipment,” said Mr Sage, who is a former employee of the control board.
“Now they have decided to stop operations … they are now wanting us to buy our gear back at market rate.
“I think it is disgusting that we now have to start from scratch.”
Mr Sage said it was important council continued to take this issue up with the State Government.
He said the SE NRM Board had also reduced the number of weeds on the schedules.
“If you look at the work that has been undertaken over the past 25 years to control Salvation Jane and other weeds, that was a great step,” Mr Sage said.
“The presentation I did to the SE NRM Board recently fell on deaf ears.
“I would like this council to highlight the board members who have made this decision.
“The farming community is outraged by this decision and I think it is rightly so.”
Deputy Mayor Brian Collins said he also did not agree council should have to buy back the equipment.
SE NRM Board member Michael Bleby said in a letter to council a tender process would be undertaken in March for the sale of all board-owned plant and machinery that would become surplus to requirements.
“As the fee-for-service operations are changing across the entire South East, it is important that all interested parties have an equal opportunity to tender for these assets,” Mr Bleby said.
He said the board did not directly employ staff and authorised officers undertaking spraying activity were employed by the Department of Water and Natural Resources.
“Once the spraying operations cease, staff will no longer be required to undertake this activity and staff involved in this work will have a different role in the future,” Mr Bleby said.
“It will not be council’s responsibility to undertake roadside weed spraying – this remains the responsibility of the board.”
He said it was the board’s intention to contract roadside weed spraying services to the private sector.
“The board is willing to further discuss these changes with local government as the transition plan unfolds,” Mr Bleby said.
