The notorious Hudson Pear continues to rear its ugly head in areas away from the primary zone in Walgett shire.

Hopes are high that a NSW Government investment in its control will help to contain the spread.

Landholders on the north western edge of the Pilliga Forest remain vigilant after a series of outbreaks have been sighted and dealt with on road reserves and private property in recent years.

Livestock movements along Travelling Stock Routes in the area have been restricted due to what is considered a serious risk of spreading the weed.

However a recent backburn by NSW National Parks and Wildlife had revealed Hudson Pear in the area between the Pilliga Road and the Baradine/Gwabegar Road.

A group of nineteen people including landholders, Castlereagh Macquarie County Council (CMCC) staff, and North West and Central West Local Land Services did a walk-through of the Hollywood reserve on Wednesday 14 June.

Landholders and agency staff meet to discuss tactics before their site meeting in the Pilliga Scrub. IMAGE SUPPLIED BY CMCC

A further site meeting at ‘Wilgadene’ on Thursday 15 June with landholders, CMCC, National Parks, and State Parks resulted in a date being set for another walk-through of the Pilliga Scrub on Friday 21 June.

"We found seventeen small juvenile Hudson pears during the walk-through on June 15," said CMCC's Senior Biosecurity Weeds Officer, Andrea Fletcher Dawson.

"All the evidence suggests that the Hudson pear we picked up in Hollywood came from the Pilliga scrub after some wildlife spread it."

"And it is a big concern, we need to make sure we keep on top of it, and keep doing the ground control."

CMCC Chairman Doug Batten said that a pre-election commitment from the Coalition has yielded $2.5 million to help combat the menace.

“The funds will go to the LLS and will be spent over five years,” Mr Batten said.

“It will provide the chemical and contractors as an incentive to landholders to help to form a containment line against Hudson Pear.

“It is probably not enough to spray it all out but we’ll get containment lines to stop the spread,” he said.

Mr Batten also said the cochineal insects, which has been introduced as a biological control in 2020, were beginning to show increased effectiveness with the warmer, drier weather.

“We’re really seeing some benefit for the work everyone has been doing,” Mr Batten said.

All agencies have reinforced the seriousness of the Hudson Pear threat and their commitment to a combined approach to deal with the problem.

"All the stakeholders are on the same page which is great, and everyone's doing what they can to help eradicate it," said Ms Fletcher Dawson.

"I do see eradication in the future."