Weed cash wanted

By Casey Neill
YARRA Ranges Council has demanded the State Government hand over $1 million promised for the hills weed war last July.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn last week told council the cash had instead gone to the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), leaving a shire plan of attack in limbo.
But Monbulk MP James Merlino said the money was always bound for DSE.
“DSE and the Yarra Ranges Council are finalising the works program and once this has been agreed, joint assessment will be undertaken and funding will be allocated appropriately,” he said.
Last July he announced the deal with mayor Len Cox to match a shire pledge of $1 million over four years to target ivy, blackberries and pittosporum weeds.
Mr Merlino said DSE when the program was announced advised all local governments the funds would be managed in partnership.
“The $1 million boost over four years to tackle weeds…is for crown and council land in the Dandenongs,” he said.
“No decisions have been made about where the money will be spent.”
Cr Dunn said the commitment was to tackle weeds on council land, not crown land.
“We were always led to believe that it was coming to council,” she said.
“It was announced that it was coming to us and now it’s not.”
“Somehow it changed. We don’t know how, we just want it back.”
Cr Dunn said the shire had mapped out a work program relying on the promised cash and had not been able to make a start on it.
“In the Dandenong Ranges weeds would have to be one of the biggest environmental issues,” she said.
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff said it was only right that the State Government reinstate the funds to Yarra Ranges “as it was intended”.
“We have crews of volunteers but we seem to have trouble getting the resources for them,” he said.
“The Victorian Government prattles on about how important volunteers are but when it comes down to providing money, the message just doesn’t get through.”