Local councils likely to be affected by the predicted spring locust plague will be provided with a rebate for locust-spraying chemicals as well as expert support to ensure they have the right tools to fight the war on locusts.
At Glenorchy, Premier John Brumby announced $850,000 would be invested to support local government from the Government’s $43.5 million strategy to tackle what experts predict could be the biggest locust plague in the last 75 years.
“Our Government is taking action to support farmers to fight a forecast locust plague which has the potential to cost Victoria’s agricultural sector $2 billion if left untreated,” Mr Brumby said.
“Advice from leading scientists indicates the scale of the spring outbreak could be as bad as we experienced in 1973 and 1974 when locusts swarmed through much of Victoria. Prior to that the last outbreak of this scale was in 1934 so we could be facing a once-in-a-lifetime locust plague.
“We are not waiting - we are taking the necessary steps now so that when the locusts hatch, we are ready to act to protect Victoria’s horticulture, livestock and dairy industries.
“We are providing farmers with a 100 per cent rebate on the costs of purchasing chemicals to spray their private land and it’s also important we stand side-by-side with local government.
“More than 25,000 hectares of council land will need to be sprayed and we will cover the costs of chemicals for local government to ensure they have the resources to join this war on locusts.
“Importantly, we will also be providing affected councils with the necessary support through a specialised consultant to work with and provide advice specifically to local government.”
Agriculture Minister Joe Helper said Local Government support will be extended to 22 councils, including Ararat, Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mildura, Mitchell, Moira, Mount Alexander, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Strathbogie, Swan Hill, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack.
“If left untreated, a locust plague this spring could decimate Victoria’s horticulture and cereal production by around one-third and slash dairy production by 20 per cent,” Mr Helper said. So it is vital all landholders have the chemicals, the tools and the support to work together.”
In addition to local council support, the $43.5 million locust strategy has:
- Provided a 100 per cent rebate for the costs of chemicals for farmers to spray locusts;
- Declared the locust an exotic threat which will give Department of Primary Industries staff the ability to inspect and act on locusts on private land under exceptional circumstances;
- Announced locust incident control centres in Bendigo, Horsham, Mildura, Swan Hill and Tatura to be staffed by up to 400 people at the height of the locust threat; and
- Ensured there are both fixed-wing planes and helicopters to aerial spray where on standby.
The rebate scheme for councils will coincide with the rebate scheme for farmers and details on how both schemes will operate will be released soon.