The Castlereagh Macquarie County Council (CMCC) has entered into a contract with North West Local Land Services to spray Hudson Pear on private land

Last week, the Western Plains reported that several landowners had asked the CMCC for free chemicals but were told the free chemical program no longer existed. 

Prior to this announcement, several expressed frustration at what they perceived as a lack of help from authorities to deal with what all stakeholders agree is a major problem - the growing spread of Hudson Pear.

The Western Plains App has also previously reported the noxious weed has recently been sighted at Narran Lakes National Park.

In a statement to the Western Plains App, CMCC Chairman Councilor Doug Batten said he was “delighted” by news of the State LNP Government’s newly announced “strategy to assist the local landowners with a program of select spraying to further support the highly effective bio control activity currently managed by the County Council".

Another part of this strategy includes the release of the Cochineal bug, but results can be limited if heavy rainfall washes the bug off the plant.

IMAGE: NSW Farmers

“The County Council have for some time been advocating for additional resources to assist in the fight against Hudson Pear and this package will definitely go a long way to reduce numbers in the immediate Lightning Ridge area and contain the spread of this sinister pest onto adjoining lands. The County Council looks forward to working closely with the LLS, and landowners in delivering this important program” CMCC said in a statement.

The "additional resources" come from a $2.6 million package announced late last year by the Minister for Agriculture and NSW Dugald Saunders of which $600,000 was made available almost immediately. In the last month since that announcement it was not clear how that money would be spent.

Walgett Shire Council General Manager Mike Urquhart told the Western Plains App “Council had now entered into a contract with North West Local Land Services to deliver the first element of the LLS Hudson Pear control program around Lightning Ridge and the opal fields at Grawin."

"In addition to engaging licensed spray contractors, Council will also have chemical packages that will be made available to landowners for their own Hudson Pear spray program”.

“In the meantime, CMCC staff shall continue to produce the bio control agent that is best applied to the core infestations, that in time will see an increase in cochineal insect population and a destruction of the Hudson Pear plants,” Mr Urquhart said.

CMCC Chairman Doug Batten. Image: Gilgandra Council.

Chairman Batten told the Western Plains CMCC “had an obligation under the Bio Security Act to ensure landowners made an effort to control and limit the spread of the plant."

"We have an appalling situation in the Lightning Ridge area, so all parties need to stop the blame game and work collaboratively as a team if we are going to make this project work”.