The funding is a product of the bushfire relief package and is jointly financed by the State and Federal governments.

Tropical soda apple was first reported in the region in 2010, however, with the bushfires causing huge land clearings in the region the weed has spread substantially.

The thorns on the plant restrict stock animal movements to graze and can create barriers, restricting animals from reaching shade and water.

The different methods used to fighting this weed include: cutting it and spraying the root with a combination of chemicals or pulling the whole weed out, both are strenuous processes.

The money will be for a range of new programs created to assist farmers to eradicate infestations and additional inspections will take place along the Macleay River and Five Day Creek.

David Duff, a farmer from Toorooka, has been leading the charge since 2013 when he campaigned for the weed to be given a class one designation.

He said "it's great to see the significance of the problem recognised by the increase of funding."

Mr Duff stressed the fact that "getting rid of this weed is not the only thing we've got to do, what we are trying to do is make a living, and we don't make a living when we are spraying soda apple. It's just part of our daily life now and it's something that we try to control. The economic cost of controlling it is significant whereas the benefit to our business remains questionable".

Council Weeds officer Greg Egan believes this funding will be put to good use. "The bushfires opened up a huge amount of land that allowed tropical soda apple to grow. The funding that we have been able to secure in the previous years have been to assist farmers to control the spread. This is moving forward into an inspection program to find these weeds early and get ahead of it."

Mayor Liz Campbell said, "it's fantastic to be able to help them in this important fight with a weed that takes advantage of these circumstances."

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