More than 80 attendees at a lantana control field day in the Boyne Valley gained improved knowledge and skills needed to combat the weed.
The day attracted local landholders, and people from as far away as Monto and Toowoomba, interested in learning more about the best ways to control lantana.
The event was organised by the Boyne Calliope Sub Region (BCSR) of the Fitzroy Basin Association Inc., in partnership with Gladstone Regional Council, the National Lantana Management Group and was supported by Fitzroy River and Coastal Catchments Inc.
BCSR Coordinator Kristy Dalton said landholders were enthusiastic about the chance to interact with experts and discover the most effective weed control methods.
“We got calls from across the state in the lead-up to the event, with people from locations including Crow’s Nest, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Monto and Miriam Vale – a number of whom attended,” Ms Dalton said.
“On the day there was lots of interaction and questions, and it also sparked a lot of one-on-one conversations and information sharing between landholders.
“The most popular items on the agenda were the demonstration of the Ellrott Plough by Peter Hinchliffe from Alternative Woody Weed Control, and the opportunity to try out the new splatter guns,” she said.
Ms Dalton said six splatter guns had recently been purchased by BCSR to help landholders in the fight to control lantana in the Boyne Calliope region.
The splatter guns were funded through the Rainforest Recovery Program were available for hire through the Gladstone Regional Council.
Ms Dalton said that based on the success of the lantana control field day, BCSR planned to conduct a series of weed control workshops in collaboration with council to help target problem weeds around the Boyne Calliope catchment.
Photograph: Daniel Stock (DPI&F) demonstrating how to use the splatter gun.
