The Northern Tablelands Regional Weed Committee struggled to get connection with Aboriginal landholders and highlighted this as a risk for weed management in the region. After taking this back to the Northern Tablelands Aboriginal Community engagement officer we discussed how we could better engage and connect with Aboriginal landholders.
In 2021 we started a project that engaged nine Aboriginal landholders. Northern Tablelands Local Land Services was able to fund these groups to have six of their staff or community members obtain their chemical certificates. We were also able to provide them with funds to purchase equipment and chemical for the purpose of weed management.
Extra support was provided to help them with identification and knowledge of best practice weed management by connecting them with their local council biosecurity weed officer. Most of these properties have now been inspected with the landholders and we have more connection with the communities.
The benefits of these projects have been numerous. We now have better connection with Aboriginal landholders and there is better weed management on Aboriginal owned land. This has meant that native habitat has been improved with a number of these properties being habitat for threatened species such as the Bell’s Turtle. By reducing the weed burden cultural sites have been protected from weeds, pests and fire. It has also enabled cultural knowledge to be better utilised to protect land and improve habitat through cultural burning. This work has provided employment and allowed for more people to be working back on country. Some groups have also been able to provide a contract spraying service to other organisations which has provided them another source of income.
We continue to work with these groups to ensure weed management continues and cultural sites are protected into the future.