Brumby handballs roadside weeds to local councils, ratepayers

The Brumby Government has handballed responsibility for roadside weed control to Alpine, Benalla, Mansfield and Strathbogie councils, says Benalla MP Bill Sykes.

Murrindindi, Greater Shepparton and Wangaratta councils will also bear the burden of roadside weed control.

John Brumby’s farm strategy announced last week indicates the Labor Party is foisting yet another State Government responsibility onto local councils, Dr Sykes said.

Mr Brumby’s announcement of $20 million over four years to support ‘local government in their management of weeds and pests on roadsides’ is a clear indication that Mr Brumby is either ignorant of the real cost to councils of this onerous task, or he just doesn’t care.

“Our Premier has little grasp of the financial pressures facing councils like Strathbogie and Murrindindi if he thinks $5 million a year shared between 79 councils and the Department of Primary Industries constitutes realistic support for ‘management’ of weeds on local roadsides.

“At this stage we simply do not know what our local Councils will receive, but it is certain to not be enough and ratepayers will end up picking up the tab,” Dr Sykes said.

“These councils have thousands of kilometres of roadside to manage. At $100 to manage weeds on a kilometre of road, these councils require significant funding to accommodate this added burden.”

• Alpine Shire Council is responsible for 804km of road requiring $80,400 a year to manage roadside weeds
• Benalla Rural City is responsible for 1,340km of road requiring $134,000 each year to manage roadside weeds
• Greater Shepparton City Council is responsible for 2,491 km of road needing $249,100 annually to manage roadside weeds
• Mansfield Shire Council is responsible for 843km of road requiring $84,300 a year to manage roadside weeds
• Murrindindi Shire Council is responsible for 1,187km of roadside needing $118,700 per annum to manage roadside weeds
• Strathbogie Shire Council is responsible for 2,190km of road requiring $219,000 annually to manage roadside weeds
• Wangaratta Rural City Council is responsible for 1,941km of road requiring $194,100 a year to manage roadside weeds.