What is the outcome from the motion about the invasive African Lovegrass?

This was the question on notice put to the chief executive officer of the Tatiara District Council by Cr Miles Hannemann during its July council meeting.

Fears of the invasive African Lovegrass fully invading the Tatiara district and potentially destroying the agriculture sector are growing.

In his motion on May 14, 2024, which was agreed upon by the council, Cr Hannemann asked that the CEO meet with the Limestone Coast Landscape Board at several sites in Tatiara and formulate a plan to reduce the invasion of African Lovegrass and rabbits in the district.

Providing an update, CEO Anne Champness said she met Steve Bourne, general manager of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, on May 21, 2024, for initial discussions about the matters raised in the motion.

Mr Bourne, Josh Rosser and Chelsea Pedersen from the Landscape Board presented to the June council briefing session about the Board’s work, the African lovegrass plan, and investment in rabbits next financial year.

The council was informed that mayor Liz Goossens, Cr Hannemann, and the CEO visited sites prior to the June council meeting.

Further discussions with Mr Bourne took place on June 18, June 21, and July 8, 2024, to discuss the action plan.

Ms Goossens, Cr Trevor Butler, Cr Richard Halliday, and the CEO attended the Limestone Coast Landscape Board meeting on June 20, 2024, and raised matters with the board.

In an earlier interview with The [Naracoorte Community] News, Cr Hannemann described the situation involving the spread of the lovegrass as “scary and a superspreader”.

He said the public needed to be aware of how scary the problem was, and if nothing was done to control the spread of the weed, it would fully invade the district and destroy the agriculture sector.

The motion was received and noted.

This article appeared in the  Naracoorte Community News.