MACQUARIE VALLEY WEEDS COMMITTEE INC. Established 8th August 1978

CHAIRMAN SENIOR VICE CHAIRMAN JUNIOR VICE CHAIRMAN SECRETARY Roger Smith Andrew Cosier Matthew Anderton Melissa Brennan Phone: 02 6393 8025 Phone: 02 6840 1758 Phone: 02 6378 2939 Phone: 02 6393 8057 Mobile: 0419 011 002 Mobile: 0429 207 791 Mobile: 0419 247 867

Minutes of General Meeting 156 The Cow and Calf Hotel – Wellington Tuesday 13th August 2019

Meeting commenced at 10.00am

Present Name Organisation Laurie Thompson Council Jodie Lawler Central West LLS Angie Kelly Central West LLS Jacky Wiblin Crown Lands Des Mackey Matt Croft Dubbo Regional Council Rebecca Balmer Dubbo Regional Council Melissa Gunn Council Kellie Frost Council Dean Hambly Council Neil Boyd Cabonne Shire Council Mitchell Townsend Cabonne Shire Council Todd Saxelby Cabonne Shire Council Andrew McConnachie Dept Primary Industries Ashara Patterson Dept Primary Industries Daniela Egli Dept Primary Industries Tina Smart Council Steve Watts Council Archie Harding Council Matt Anderton Mid-Western Regional Council Brian Bonello Bogan Shire Council Roger Smith Chairman Melissa Brennan Secretary Andrew Cole Orange City Council Craig Bennett Associate Member Kane Davison Council Guy Marchant Narromine Shire Council Glenn Sloane Parkes Shire Council Cr Rob McCutcheon Narromine Shire Council Russell Tiffen Council Andrea Fletcher Castlereagh Macquarie County Council Chris Jackson Upper Macquarie County Council

The Chairman welcomed everyone to Wellington and thanked those that had travelled for today’s meeting. Rebecca Balmer from Dubbo Regional Council welcomed everyone and mentioned the field trip after lunch at Mount Arthur Reserve.

The Chairman spoke about last year being the 40 year anniversary for Macquarie Valley Weeds Committee. Melissa Brennan will put the established date on all correspondence from now on.

The Chairman called for apologies. Name Organisation Andy McKinnon Western LLS Andrew Cosier Dubbo Regional Council Peter Dawson North West LLS Joshua Higgs Crown Land Jason Neville National Parks Wildlife Services Luke Hardy Crown Land Tim Nalder Central Tablelands LLS Michael Michelmore Dept Primary Industries Cathy Black Bogan Shire Council Tony Payne Bogan Shire Council Paul Gibb Central Tablelands LLS Erlina Compton Western LLS Matthew Bailey Parkes Shire Council Stephen Johnson Dept Primary Industries Ray Davy Council Greg Ingham GM Castlereagh Macquarie County Council Mal Leeson LLS Andrew Mulligan Central West LLS Brooke Kirkman Central West LLS Rob Christian Orange City Council Chris Cannard Council Don McKenzie Life Member Kerinne Harvey Dept Primary Industries Jasmine Wells Western LLS Peta Holcombe Central West LLS Jay Stephenson Associate Member Peter Hutchinson Brewarrina Shire Council Robyn Richardson Dept Primary Industries Bryson Rees Life Member Moved Matt Croft Seconded Craig Bennett Carried

Confirmation of previous meeting minutes on 14th May 2019 at Lightning Ridge Moved Melissa Gunn Seconded Steve Watts Carried

Business arising from previous meeting held at Lightning Ridge on 14th May 2019 There was none

Chairman’s report First of all I would like to say a big thankyou to Mel Brennan for organising this meeting along with Andrew Cosier and Rebecca Balmer from Dubbo Regional Council. It is great to see so many attending the meeting which is obviously appreciated by the numbers here today.

Mental Health Workshop A workshop on mental health will be run in Dubbo on the 30 September and the 1 October, 2019. The course will be conducted by Western Health Service rather than Norman Turkington and Associates. The course, Mental Health First Aid, is the same course spoken about at the Lightning Ridge meeting. At this stage we have 24 attending the workshop.

Tom Knowles Award We have had 3 nominations for the Tom Knowles Award with the winner to be announced at today’s meeting. The award winner was chosen by the executive with a conflict of interest keeping myself out of the process.

NSW Biennial Weeds Conference There was only one nomination for a member of the MWVC to attend the NSW Weeds Conference. The nominated person was Melissa Brennan but due to family commitments Mel couldn’t attend the conference.

Weeds Officer Association Grant This committee did submit an application for a $1500 grant available from the Weeds Officer’s Association to help fund the Mental Health Workshop. Unfortunately because the funding had to be linked to WAP activities the application was unsuccessful. In saying that the Weeds Officers Association has now changed the process of how the applications are culled and they don’t necessarily need to be linked to the WAP.

Television Campaign The 2019 television campaign will commence in September with the ads to be screened on Southern Cross Austero and Imparja. This is the first time we have engaged Imparja in the weeds campaign and will address the concerns the western LCAs have with not being able to access the campaign through the other networks. There were no questions

Correspondence The Chairman noted that there were many emails to go through but all of them have been circulated.

The Chairman called for any questions. There were none.

Financial Report The Chairman spoke about the WAP reporting and mentioned that Macquarie Valley are doing well at the moment with funds.

The Chairman called for any questions.

Craig Bennett mentioned MVWC appears to be spending funds rather quickly and if this continues the nest egg of funds the committee has will soon be exhausted.

Guy Marchant asked was the last 12 months indicative of annual expenditure with the chairman stating expenditure occurs in waves. During 2018/2019 we had the TV campaign, sending a MVWC member to the Australian Weeds Conference, Aquatic Weeds Workshop, the Mental Health Workshop and the subsidising of the Biosecurity training for some weeds officers.

To date this year we have the 2 day mental health training and a contribution to the television campaign which MVWC will contribute funds.

Melissa Gunn said there is no use having these funds if we don’t spend them on resources or training/advertising.

The Chairman said that we are keeping a close eye on the budget and we are travelling along ok.

The Chairman asked if anyone would like to do any training that there is money in the budget to accommodate the training and we can still apply for grants if we wish to do so.

The Chairman also mentioned about having a tour down the track up to QLD to look at Parthenium Weed which will be hopefully funded through a grant.

Craig Bennett asked a question about the weeds trailer expenses ie registration/maintenance. The Chairman stated that Orange City Council was funding the expenses and will continue to do so as the trailer is now part of its fleet.

Macquarie Valley will add in some extra money to go towards the TV ad campaign for 2019.

Moved Guy Marchant Seconded Archie Harding Carried

Training The Chairman mentioned the Aquatic weeds that was conducted in April this year and Mental Health training will happen in Dubbo late September.

The Chairman asked if there was any other training/courses that the committee would like to do.

Jodie Lawler spoke about a grasses workshop that is being conducted by the Local Land Services in October with Harry Rose.

The Chairman spoke about the drone workshop in Orange and Laurie Thompson mentioned that there is one in Parkes on Thursday.

Dept of Primary Industries update The Chairman mentioned that Orange City Council have been dealing with DPI and landowners back in March this year doing a weed risk assessment on Sticky Nightshade, they are currently in the process of putting it on the Regional Weeds Plan list.

The Chairman spoke about the WAP reports and asked if everyone had finished them.

Delegate Reports discussion Narromine talked about leaving a goodies bag for farmers around Narromine Shire which is working quite well and is a good talking point.

Jodie Lawler spoke about the WAP, merchandise, jumping on board for No space for weeds campaign. Jodie also mentioned the grasses/weed identification workshop that Harry Rose will talk at. It is conducted through TOCAL in Forbes 22-23 October and Dubbo on 24-25 October 2019. Will forward information flyer to everyone.

Meeting paused at 1030am for Morning Tea Meeting recommenced at 1055am

Dubbo Regional Council mentioned that they have been doing property and road inspections, talking to farmers about how they are controlling weeds. Dubbo Regional Council has just finished their Glysophate review, and they have decided to continue using the product.

Dept of Primary Industries have been working on Fireweed Bio control and potential insect agents. Daniela Egli who is visiting from South Africa will be going to the Weeds Conference to talk more about Fireweed. Fireweed is still a huge problem along the East Coast. Andrew McConnachie spoke about the new quarantine facility in Orange. It is planned for completion in March 2020 and will enable DPI to take on more Bio Control research. They will be receiving funding from the federal government for African Lovegrass and additional funding for Hudson Pear up North.

Laurie Thompson from Lachlan Shire Council mentioned that he has been doing a lot of spraying.

Steve Watts from Wentworth Shire Council mentioned that he found Devils Rope Pear and Hudson Pear.

Cabonne Council spoke about mapping of the Sticky nightshade within the shire. They have found Chilean needle grass along the highways which is blowing off trucks and they have been doing prickly pear spraying.

Jacky Wiblin from Crown Lands mentioned that they have been doing Mother of millions spraying.

Angie Kelly from Central West LLS mentioned that they have dealing with Mother of millions, Gal burr and Tiger Pear.

Matt Anderton from Mid-Western Regional Council mentioned that he has been chasing Tussock around Windamere dam. They were lucky enough to secure $130,000 from Water NSW for aerial treatment, all his guys are going to the Weeds Conference in Newcastle. Spraying at the moment works out to be $130/ha.

Brian Bonello from Bogan Shire Council has finalised his mapping system with Connect – subscription fee each year is $1500. They just has their Ag Expo, They have had a lot of Green Cestrum enquiries and has been handing out stubby holders to the rugby club.

Andrea Fletcher from Castlereagh County Council focusing on weeds in hay/grain – keeping on awareness when we get rain. A new incursion of Sticky Nightshade in Gilgandra and tackling Hudson Pear.

Chris Jackson from Upper Macquarie County Council spotted Parrots feather in Raglan creek on the edge of town, only known location of it this side of the mountain. Also working on the Vale creek project with Blackberry and Willow moving through the system with fisheries.

Melissa Gunn from Cobar Shire Council found a little bit more of Parthenium weed, Cacti, did a field day at Euabalong commins and has been very dry.

Kellie Frost from Weddin Shire Council has been fitting out a new vehicle, purchasing new tablet, working on licensing fees and advertising for a trainee. They have a new director for Weddin Shire Council. She has been handing out stubby holders/t-shirts.

Dean Hambly replaced Peter Hutchinson in Brewarrina and is settling in well into his new position.

Tina Smart from Forbes is still doing property inspections and trying keep them within the urban areas and is doing inspections for Green Cestrum. Forbes Facebook/weeds website is being updated. Has found a 5km infestation of Tiger Pear and Council has put on a Trainee.

Andrew Cole from Orange City Council has been busy with Serrated tussock at the Biobank site at Girralang. Cr Rob McCutcheon from Narromine Shire Council mentioned that Green cestrum has been a problem since the mid 80’s.

Parkes Shire Council has been working on Boxthorn, their show season is starting soon and they have been noticing Cacti blastus around. Have been doing a lot of community engagement by going around to the pub/clubs and doing information nights/promotional awareness. Parkes Council has put a 3 month embargo on them that they cannot do any inspections for 3 months.

Russell Tiffen from Bourke Shire Council has been chasing African Boxthorn, had a field day a couple of months ago.

New Weed Incursions Andy Fletcher found Sticky nightshade in Gilgandra and Hudson Pear in Pillaga. Russell Tiffen found Boxing glove cactus in Bourke. Kevin Nelligan found Frogbit which is a prohibited matter in Cowra.

Weeds Advertising The Chairman mentioned that the ad for this year will be the same as last year for Drought affected areas. The ad will start on Imparja and Southern Cross Ten from September and go through to November. The invoices for the campaign will be sent out in the next month.

General Business Archie Harding mentioned that the weeds trailer will be going back and forth from Narromine to Condobolin in the next few weeks and the Narromine show will be on shortly.

Brian Bonello mentioned that he coordinated a National tree day with school kids around the area which worked very well.

Craig Bennett spoke about catching the XPT back this week from Penrith which prompted him to ask if anyone has had any success with John Holland and if anything has been done regarding weeds along the railway line. Chris Jackson answered his question. The Chairman mentioned that he has always dealt with Arum Berry from John Holland and he has always been very helpful.

Melissa Gunn spoke about having no response from anyone within John Holland about getting them on their weeds committee.

Chris Jackson spoke about issuing a control notice first then issuing a direction. If there is no response a PIN will be issued to the value of $1000.

Jodie Lawler mentioned that there will be 2 representatives from ARTC coming to Central West meeting next week in Coonabarabran so this issue will be discussed further.

The Chairman mentioned about contributing $1500 to 3 different organisations to help out and asked what the committee’s thoughts on this are?

Melissa Gunn mentioned that this was a good idea.

Cr Rob McCutcheon talked about a great charity called Drought Angel and that they give you 100% back and they will make an assessment on the farm before they give you the money. The committee will do some more research on this topic.

Next Meeting The next meeting which is the November General Meeting will be held in October on 24th October 2019. It will be hosted by Orange City Council. The venue will be at The Australian National Field Day site at Borenore.

The meeting closed at 1155am.