Territory Stories

The Northern Territory news Tue 20 Jul 2010

Details:

Title

The Northern Territory news Tue 20 Jul 2010

Other title

NT news

Collection

The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT

Date

2010-07-20

Description

This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.

Language

English

Subject

Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin

Publisher name

Nationwide News Pty. Limited

Place of publication

Darwin

File type

application/pdf

Use

Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.

Copyright owner

Nationwide News Pty. Limited

License

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1968A00063

Parent handle

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/222288

Citation address

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/691607

Page content

24 NT NEWS. Tuesday, July 20, 2010. www.ntnews.com.au P U B : N T N E W S D A T E : 2 0 -J U L -2 0 1 0 P A G E : 2 4 C O L O R : C M Y K FEATURES l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l ntnews.com.au George Hennessy from NT Field and Game at the Harrison Dam area where helicopters are out to eradicate Olive Hymenachne weed Pictures: BRAD FLEET and JUSTIN SANSON By ANNIE SANSON George Hennessy and Ranger Charlie Hayes conduct spot spraying on Harrison Dam NT Parks and Wildlife have combined with NT Field and Game to aerial spray the Harrison Dam area George Hennessy and Ranger Charlie Hayes in action out at Harrison Dam, 60km southeast of Darwin NT Parks and Wildlife and NT Field and Game are conducting aerial sprays at Harrison Dam Wicked weed ONE of the most invasive weeds in Australia is threatening wildlife and plants in the Top End. Olive hymenachne is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, its potential for spread and its economic and environmental impacts. NT Parks and Wildlife rangers and members of the Field and Game Association have now joined forces to fight the weed that threatens the wetlands around Harrison Dam, about 60km southeast of Darwin. If it continued to spread, the area wouldnt be a viable wetland for waterbirds any more, NT Field and Game president Bart Irwin said. Mr Irwin, 48, of Howard Springs, said the weed would totally exclude all birds from access to the water. It already covers up a big area of water and blankets all the area around the Window to the Wetlands, he said. Only a few open water areas are left for birds. Hymenachne, a stock pasture grass gone wrong, first escaped in the 1990s from a research farm. Its sticky seeds are transported by flooding and birds and have a 98 per cent viability, making the grass a dangerous threat for flora and fauna. It needs constant attention, as all weeds do, and due to the enormity of the job Field and Game has made an effort in assisting Parks and Wildlife with the hands-on work, as well as with organisational aspects and through a grant system assisting with funding, Mr Irwin said. With a helicopter and an air boat the first joint forces spraying recently took place at Harrison Dam.