Herbicide targets weeds

Aboriginal Wunggurr rangers and the Department of Environment and Conservation have banded together to target a noxious weed choking the life out of parts of the West Kimberley.

As part of the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy, the King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park taro weed infestation is being targeted with herbicide.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said taro, introduced in the 1980s, had been spreading along a tributary of the Barker River at Mt Hart homestead.

“This species is native to the East Kimberley but is consideredan invasive weed in the West Kimberley as it has the potential to spread rapidly and choke river systems,” he said.

In August, the team conducted trials to test different weed control methods and hit on herbicide spray.

Almost 2ha of taro were sprayed twice by rangers in a successful follow-up effort in September.

“DEC will continue to re-treat the affected area in the coming months and further survey work will be undertaken downstream to check for potential infested pockets,” Mr Marmion said.