Landowners counts cotton bush cost
Preston Beach resident Trish Brown is disgusted with the lack of action to fight the spread of the toxic weed cotton bush.
The 75-year-old landowner has contacted the Waroona Shire Council, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Peel-Harvey Biosecurity Group and members of parliament, but the weed continues to spread.
"I have lost more than 20 sheep in the past four years to cotton bush from adjacent properties encroaching on my land," Mrs Brown said.
"I have made formal complaints to the Waroona DAFWA biosecurity officer but he has not paid a visit.
"City-based property developers own huge tracts of land around Preston Beach and they are the major culprits who have allowed cotton bush to flourish.
"My neighbour is one of these and the company owns more than 800 acres (320ha) around my small property on three sides.
"My land is bombarded with the airborne seeds every year and I have been pulling up the emerging seedlings for years."
Mrs Brown said she was informed that DAFWA would only enforce the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 in line with the biosecurity group priorities in areas identified as having long-term infestations.
Peel-Harvey Biosecurity Group chairman Barrie Thomson said the group did not have any legal power to prosecute and was working together with the department on educating farmers with good results.
Department regional leader for invasive species, Tim Thompson, said the department was supporting a coordinated approach through the formation of biosecurity groups.
"There has been broad community concern that this weed is not being properly managed by some landholders," Mr Thompson said.
"DAFWA takes a role in compliance enforcement where the need is identified, but a regulatory approach taken in isolation is not the most effective option against established weeds."
From October to December last year, officers inspected more than 30 properties across the Peel-Harvey and Leschenault catchment areas.
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