AN HORRIFIC task could be facing landholders as an explosion of weeds looms, one councillor warns.
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Councillor Jim Maxwell is a member of the North West regional weed committee and he has once again warned his Tamworth colleagues about the risks associated with the influx of fodder being trucked-in.
He told the council at its most recent meeting there were strong concerns about weeds coming-in as freight increased to keep stock fed in the drought.
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He said Hudson pear had been noted towards the west of the North West Local Land Services boundary.
It's a weed which can be very costly and time-consuming to manage, as well as being quite destructive on grazing land.
"It is a grave concern if it gets into grazing country," he said.
"There could be an explosion of new weeds and that will be an horrific task for inspectors, as well landholders to keep things at bay."
Last year, Cr Maxwell issued a similar warning when he highlighted incursions of parthenium weed had already been found coming in from Queensland and feared Parramatta grass was coming from the coast.
According to the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), if left unchecked, Hudson pear has the potential to "reduce the viability of agricultural enterprises and subsequent land values and impact adversely on native fauna and flora".
"Its presence on flood plains in north-western NSW is particularly worrying as a major flood event could result in a significant increase in its distribution including movement into the Darling River system," according the NSW WeedWise website.
North West Local Land Services regional weed coordinator Peter Dawson said there had been a recent incursion of parthenium weed in the area and authorities were on the look-out for gamba grass and tropical soda apple.
He said vigilance was key in a time like this and reminded landholders they could get "vendor declarations" and to keep a watch on feed areas for any suspicious plant activity.
"If you see anything unusual, contact your weeds officer in the first instance," Mr Dawson said.
"We'd rather have false alarms than complacency."