Kempsey Shire Council will receive more than $200,000 to continue its control efforts of the highly invasive weed, Tropical Soda Apple thanks to a grant from the NSW Government.
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The successful grant application will see council receive $202,048 from North Coast Local Land Services Department of Primary Industries Weeds Action Program.
TSA is a prickly perennial shrub that grows one to two metres high. It can be spread by floodwaters but predominately spreads by contaminated cattle which have eaten the fruit.
The plant is a host for many diseases and pests of cultivated crops and contains solasodine which is poisonous to humans.
Council's Weeds Officer, Greg Egan, said the grant will go towards controlling Tropical Soda Apple in the Upper Macleay.
"This is great news as this funding will assist council in working alongside landholders who were affected by the bushfires and have had TSA mapped on their properties," Mr Egan said.
"The program will allow the control of seedling and plants to prevent TSA from flowering and fruiting.
"By assisting landholders with weed control, it means that they can get back to focussing on repairing their properties post fires, such as rebuilding fences, buildings and attending to stock."
An Upper Macleay Landholder Engagement meeting was hosted by Council Weed Officers in Willawarrin on Friday, February 21.
Thanks to the event sponsor, Meat & Livestock Australia, the event brought together a large number of local producers who are working through bushfire recovery, with sponsorship funding going towards creating tailored information sessions around producers' specific needs in bushfire-affected regions.
