Dieback not Daunted by Drizzle
MEDIA RELEASE
Date 23 April 2010
Dieback not Daunted by Drizzle
Drizzle, showers, muddy conditions and the threatening signs of more rain didn’t stop the enthusiasm of landholders, government agencies and NRM officials from attending Parkinsonia Dieback Workshops recently held across Western Queensland.
Coordinator of the workshops, Desert Channels Queensland’s Ron Beezley, of said it was great to see the amount of interest in the three dieback workshops. “Over 80 people attended from as far away as Rockhampton to the east, Mt Isa and Windorah to the west , Charters Towers to the north, and through to the New South Wales border,” he said.
“It was very much a hands-on approach and this worked well. Attendees were able to get down, get low and inoculate a Parkinsonia tree with the dieback agent, and they get to take a kit away with them to treat trees on their own property,” added Mr Beezley.
Dr Vic Galea, Senior Lecturer in Plant Pathology at the University of Queensland, Gatton Campus developed the dieback agent from a naturally occurring fungus from northern Australia. He explained that the dieback agent is a fungus and, at this stage, it is only being used in a trial capacity in Queensland.
“If the dieback kits are a success, this could lead to mass production and the product being available to landowners far and wide,” he said, “but it must be emphasised that this is not a be all and end all situation. The dieback fungus complements other weed control methods.”
Desert Channels Queensland has been at the forefront of weed control across the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin for many years and the 3099 kilometres travelled to conduct three Parkinsonia workshops was par for the course. Travelling throughout Western Queensland also gave Mr Beezley the opportunity to meet with landowners and spread the word about DCQ and its work.
“We certainly don’t sit around the office all day waiting for calls or sending out emails,” he said. “DCQ prides itself in the way it connects with the community and the fact that we’re happy to travel and go where the needs are.”
For more information on the work of Desert Channels Queensland, visit www.dcq.org.au.
ENDS
Media enquiries: Roelie Hartwig
Ph: (07) 4652 7812
Fax: (07) 4658 0122
Email: roelie.hartwig@dcq.org.au
