Nsw Weeds Conference
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18th NSW WEEDS CONFERENCE Monday 12th to Thursday 15th October 2015 Multi-Function Centre, Cooma NSW Weeds - the Future: “Innovation and Adaptation” Monday 12th to Thursday 15th October 2015 Multi-Function Centre, Cooma NSW Conference Program Monday 12 October 2015 - Ex-Services Club – Vale Street Cooma 5:00pm –8:00pm Registration Open 6:00pm – 8:00pm Welcome Reception DAY 1 Tuesday 13 October 2015 - Cooma Multi-Function Centre 7:00am – 8:15am Registrations open Opening Sessions – Changes in the Weed World CHAIR Peter Smith 8:30am Welcome to Country – Community Elder – Jandemarra Wall 8:35am Conference Welcome – Mayor - Cooma-Monaro Shire Council 8:40am Opening – Bruce Christie, DDG Biosecurity NSW DPI 8:50am Keynote Speaker – James Litchfield, azeldean.H Celebrating 150 years of Merino and Angus breeding on the Monaro 9:10am Keynote Speaker – Andy Sheppard - CSIRO – 100 years of continually successful weed biological control in Australia 9:30am Changes in the weed world – Dr Andrew Sanger - DPI 9:50am Applying Rational Regulation. Changing Noxious Weeds Act and NSW Biosecurity Act – Michael Michelmore – NSW DPI 10:10am Question & Answer Session 10:20am Morning Tea and Trade Display Mid-Morning Sessions CHAIR John Cahill 11:00am NSW Invasive Species Plan 2015-2022 – What’s New – Jane Frances - NSW DPI 11:20am NSW Weeds Review Implementation within Local Land Services – Brett Miners - Hunter Local Land Services 11:50am Overview of the Biosecurity Information System – Mary Malin - Biosecurity - NSW DPI 12:20am Question & Answer Session 100 years of continually successful weed biological control in Australia Andy Sheppard1, Jim Cullen1 and Bill Palmer2 1 CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship GPO Box 1700 Canberra ACT 2601 2 Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, Ecosciences Precinct, GPO Box 267, Brisbane, Qld 4001 Biological control of weeds started in Australia in 1903 when the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock imported Dactylopius ceylonicus cochineal (ex Brazil via India/Sri Lanka) to work on as a potential biological control agent for Opuntia vulgaris (Barbary fig) but the culture died out before any releases were made. Then in 1913-1914 Department of Agriculture and Stock imported three more Dactylopius spp., Cactoblastis cactorum and a disease of Opuntia. In 1914 D. ceylonicus was released in Queensland and quickly led to the successful control of O. vulgaris. In the same year the moth Epinotia lantana and the fly Agromyza lantanae were released on lantana (ex Mexico via Hawaii) but did not achieve any control. From 1921 to 1940, 19 other insect agents were released against seven Opuntia spp. and 12 of these agents established. The major success of the Cactoblastis moth complemented by Dactylopius opuntiae led to the world renowned successful control of Opuntia stricta (prickly pear) over 25M ha of Queensland and NSW. Since then Australia has run 73 weed biological control programs (69 on weeds exotic to Australia) against weeds of agriculture, the environment, recreation, amenity and health. Of these 58 were fully developed programs. In summary 14 have been very successful, 11 seasonally or regionally successful, 11 programs were unsuccessful and 22 programs are still ongoing and too early to assess. That is a confirmed success rate of 69% programs and included targets like salvinia, rubber vine, bridal creeper and Paterson’s curse. A 2006 independent evaluation also showed that for an annual investment of $4M a year since 1903 weed biological control has returned, not including environmental benefits, an annual benefit of $95M to the $4.4 Billion a year financial problem weeds cause to Australian agriculture. The 1970s through to the 1990s saw the most weed biological control programs in Australia. Since then activity and capability have gone into serious decline. This paper will tell the story of 110 years of weed biological control, a century on from the first effective release, and look to the future around opportunities and capacity to deliver. The New NSW Invasive Species Plan 2015-2022 - What's New? Jane Frances, Manager Special Projects NSW DPI Introduction The Invasive Species Plan 2015-2022 (the Plan) aims to outline mechanisms to prevent new incursions, contain existing populations and adaptively manage widespread invasive species. The overall goal is to foster and support a cooperative culture where everyone contributes to minimising the impacts of invasive species in NSW. The Plan also seeks to clarify roles and responsibilities of partners and stakeholders in NSW. The Plan builds on and further develops the principles of its predecessor (the NSW Invasive Species Plan 2008-2015), and continues to adopt four goals: 1. Exclude – prevent the establishment of new invasive species. 2. Eradicate or contain – eliminate, or prevent the spread of new invasive species. 3. Effectively manage – reduce the impacts of widespread invasive species. 4. Build capacity – ensure NSW has the ability and commitment to manage invasive species. The Plan provides a state level framework for the coordinated and cooperative management of invasive species. It complements other existing strategies, in particular the NSW Biosecurity Strategy, the Australian Pest Animal Strategy, the Australian Weeds Strategy and the National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions. It also provides links to regional and other plans, as well as various species-specific plans, both those that are in preparation as well as those already in existence. Process to Develop the Plan In early 2014 NSW DPI appointed a Project Manager to coordinate and oversee the review of the NSW Invasive Species Plan 2008-2015 (ISP1) and the development of the NSW Invasive Species Plan 2015-2022. The first task was to establish a Working Group with membership composed from key agencies, partners and stakeholders with an interest in invasive species. The NSW DPI Project Manager chaired the Working Group and members from National Parks and Wildlife, Local Lands Services, Local Council, Crown Lands, Weeds Officers and NSW Farmers participated. NSW DPI also provided representatives with expertise in weeds, vertebrate pests, plant and aquatic biosecurity management. At its first meeting the Working Group commenced a review of ISP1. They were determined that the new Plan would maintain the clarity and concise nature of ISP1, while including updates on novel control techniques and new management initiatives at the national and state levels. To achieve this, the Working Group sought input from a broad range of people active in invasive species management and research. The Working Group developed an extensive list of key contacts and distributed a questionnaire to them as a mechanism to seek input from technical experts, practitioners and stakeholders. In particular, the questionnaire sought comments on strengths and weaknesses of ISP1, and suggestions for case studies for inclusion in the new Plan. The Working Group was particularly keen to try to keep interested parties informed of progress in developing the Plan. A number of updates were prepared and distributed by working group members to their networks and posted on line. NSW DPI also sought comment on an early draft from its Invasive Plants and Animals staff, prior to releasing the document for public consultation. All comments received were assessed and the draft Plan was amended where appropriate prior to its finalisation and endorsement by the Minister for Primary Industries. So what is new? Key differences between this Plan and the Plan it replaces (the 2008-2015 NSW Invasive Species Plan) include that the new Plan: - clearly defines roles and responsibilities in invasive species management, - explains the invasion curve, - describes the need for and use of prioritisation, risk assessment and monitoring, - includes contemporary case studies, and - clarifies implementation, monitoring and reporting against the Plan. Each of these changes are now outlined is detail. Roles and Responsibilities A wide range of organisations and people are involved in invasive species management in NSW. The Plan recognises the variety of roles that exist, and attempts to consolidate these efforts through better coordination and communication between organisations and individuals. The Plan describes in some detail the roles and responsibilities of key Government and community groups, and includes the following table which provides a generic illustration of these roles and responsibilities. Table: Representation of roles and responsibilities Responsibility Role or Activity Occupier Community or State Federal (rural /urban) local council government government 1. On-farm biosecurity 2. On-farm pest control 3 Backyard management 4. Public land management 5. Commercial production (eg agriculture, horticulture etc) 6. Legislation 7. Stakeholder awareness 8. Hands on/field activities (eg treatment, spraying, trapping) 9. Diagnostics/identification 10. Domestic market access 11. Export market access 12. Training and engagement Key to colours Means this group has primary responsibility Means a shared responsibility Means no responsibility The Invasion Curve Biosecurity Victoria developed a graphic representation, known as the Invasion Curve, which has been widely adopted by invasive species practitioners throughout Australia, and is included in the Plan (with Biosecurity Victoria’s permission). The generalised invasion curve illustrates changes over time if pests and diseases successfully