Taming the wild west: Surveillance, Control and Progress within the Unincorporated Area of Western NSW | Andrea Fletcher-Dawson, Matt Savage and Brook Hooson
Tracks
| Tuesday, August 5, 2025 |
| 12:00 PM - 12:20 PM |
| Miconia Room |
Speaker
Ms Brook Hooson
State Priority Weeds Coordinator
NSW DPIRD
Taming the wild west: Surveillance, Control and Progress within the Unincorporated Area of Western NSW | Andrea Fletcher-Dawson, Matt Savage and Brook Hooson
Abstract
TAMING THE WILD WEST
Surveillance, Control, and the pursuit of Progress within the
Unincorporated Area of Far Western NSW
Brook Hooson1 and Andrea Fletcher-Dawson2
1. State Priority Weeds Coordinator, Invasive Species Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 1245 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar NSW 2477
2. Senior Biosecurity Weeds Officer, Castlereagh Macquarie County Council
SUMMARY
The Unincorporated Area of Far Western New South Wales (UA) is a unique region that operates without local government administration. This vast, sparsely populated area lies along the Queensland border west of Bourke in the far West, down to Wentworth close to the Victorian border. The UA is characterized by arid landscapes, extensive pastoral activities, and a fragile ecosystem. One of the key environmental challenges in this region is the presence and management of priority weed species such as rubber vine and pricky acacia, which threaten native biodiversity, agriculture, and land stability.
Stretching for over 93,000 square kilometres down the length of the State, the UA presents unique challenges when it comes to weed management. In 2024, DPIRD supported the appointment of Castlereagh Macquarie County Council (CMCC) to become the Local Control Authority for the UA and begin to introduce remote surveillance, weed control and community engagement back into the far West.
This presentation will provide a snapshot of the land that makes up the UA, the high priority weed species requiring management and how CMCC are meeting the challenges of being the Local Control Authority for such a remote and vast part of our State.
Keywords: surveillance; remote detection; raising awareness; western; state priority weeds; rubber vine; prickly acacia
Surveillance, Control, and the pursuit of Progress within the
Unincorporated Area of Far Western NSW
Brook Hooson1 and Andrea Fletcher-Dawson2
1. State Priority Weeds Coordinator, Invasive Species Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 1245 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar NSW 2477
2. Senior Biosecurity Weeds Officer, Castlereagh Macquarie County Council
SUMMARY
The Unincorporated Area of Far Western New South Wales (UA) is a unique region that operates without local government administration. This vast, sparsely populated area lies along the Queensland border west of Bourke in the far West, down to Wentworth close to the Victorian border. The UA is characterized by arid landscapes, extensive pastoral activities, and a fragile ecosystem. One of the key environmental challenges in this region is the presence and management of priority weed species such as rubber vine and pricky acacia, which threaten native biodiversity, agriculture, and land stability.
Stretching for over 93,000 square kilometres down the length of the State, the UA presents unique challenges when it comes to weed management. In 2024, DPIRD supported the appointment of Castlereagh Macquarie County Council (CMCC) to become the Local Control Authority for the UA and begin to introduce remote surveillance, weed control and community engagement back into the far West.
This presentation will provide a snapshot of the land that makes up the UA, the high priority weed species requiring management and how CMCC are meeting the challenges of being the Local Control Authority for such a remote and vast part of our State.
Keywords: surveillance; remote detection; raising awareness; western; state priority weeds; rubber vine; prickly acacia
Biography
Brook Hooson is a State Priority Weeds Coordinator within the Weeds Biosecurity team, Invasive Species Biosecurity unit, NSW DPIRD. Having spent 3 years in this role, and previously 5 years as a Weed Biosecurity Officer, Brook has a passion for coordinating and participating in on-ground rapid response programs for our State Priority Weeds. Additional roles include reviewing and managing the State Weed Risk Assessment System, assisting with weed reporting data through the Biosecurity Information System, responding to priority weed enquiries and reports and supporting our great Western region in the battle against weeds.
Andrea Fletcher-Dawson
Senior Biosecurity Weeds Officer
Castlereagh Macquarie County Council
Taming the wild west: Surveillance, Control and Progress within the Unincorporated Area of Western NSW | Andrea Fletcher-Dawson, Matt Savage and Brook Hooson
Biography
I have been Working for Castlereagh Macquarie County Council since April 2017. I have a lot of passion in my role and contributing to weed management, working with land owners/managers, community and stakeholders.
Recipient of the Tom Knowls Award in 2018. This award is an annual award given to the quite achiever of Weed Management with in the Macquarie Valley Region and in 2019 awarded the Buerkner Award at the NSW Weeds Conference in Newcastle.
Mathew Savage
Biosecurity Weeds Officer
Castlereagh Macquarie County Council
Taming the wild west: Surveillance, Control and Progress within the Unincorporated Area of Western NSW | Andrea Fletcher-Dawson, Matt Savage and Brook Hooson
Biography
I have been Working for Castlereagh Macquarie County Council since 2818. Contributing to weed management is rewarding. I have passion dedicating myself to the controlling of Hudson Pear and the mass rearing facility in Lightning Ridge where biological agents is reared for many cacti species.
Recipient of 2 awards at the 22nd NSW Weed Conference in 2023 at Dubbo. Finalist of the Buerckner Award for outstanding contribution to the on-ground control of weeds in New South Wales and the NSW Weed Biocontrol for outstanding contributions to weed biocontrol in NSW.
