More than 150,000 properties searched for illegal weed

More than 150,000 residential properties throughout Victoria have been inspected during an extensive investigation and recovery of illegal Mexican feather grass plants sold through retail chains in Victoria last year.

In Bacchus Marsh today to visit Department of Primary Industries (DPI) staff, Agriculture Minister Joe Helper congratulated the team on the investigation and the recovery effort which has so far netted more than 70 per cent of plants sold.

“The Brumby Labor Government understands the potential serious impact to Victoria’s agriculture industry that the spread of Mexican feather grass could have,” Mr Helper said.

“That is why when the sale of the plant was first detected by a Department of Primary Industries (DPI) employee, we took immediate action to minimise any spread.

“Around 90 staff from DPI’s landscape protection group have so far contributed more than 3000 working days resulting in more than 7600 plants and seed being successfully retrieved,” Mr Helper said.

“This result is important when the cost of a Victoria-wide infestation both economically and environmentally is estimated to be around $10 million per year.

“Recent ecological modelling has shown that Mexican feather grass could establish in up to 500 million hectares of land across Australia, or 60 per cent of the country.”

Mr Helper said the investigation and recovery effort by DPI staff had been extensive.

“As well as working to recover plants DPI have worked in partnership with the nursery industry to develop a Code of Practice in order to decrease the likelihood of another similar incident occurring in the future,” he said.

Mr Helper said DPI had also trained more than 80 workers from a number of local councils around Victoria to help identify Mexican feather grass plants.

“I want to personally thank each individual who has given their time and energy to working on this priority response,” he said.

“The Brumby Labor Government is aware of the damage an invasive plant such as this could have and the response DPI has taken to this again shows why Victoria is considered a leader under the national biosecurity approach.”

Mexican feather grass is one of Victoria’s 25 declared State Prohibited Weeds under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.