Council Urges NSW Govt to Release 4th Year Biosecurity Weeds Funding

Published on 27 March 2024

Leeton Shire Secures Country Mayors Support Calling on the NSW Government to Immediately Release the 4th Year of Funding for the adopted Biosecurity Weeds Action Plan Works Councils have Already Delivered

An ‘unexpected and unwelcome new process’ for Biosecurity weeds funding that has been foisted on local councils and country councils at the last minute prompted Leeton Shire Council’s Mayor, Cr Tony Reneker, to take up the matter at the Friday 22 March meeting of the NSW Country Mayors Association (CMA). 

Biosecurity Weed Action Plans (WAPs) set out, over a 5 year period, a local council or county council’s plans for dealing with noxious weeds. The current WAPs were adopted in 2020/21 and run through to 2024/25.

Calling the surprise changes to funding arrangements ‘unnecessary and burdensome red tape’, Mayor Reneker said NSW councils are not willing to accept a new and uncertain process this late in the financial year. He explained that Councils are in their 4th year of a 5-year current Weed Action Plan (WAPs) and have almost completed the 2023/24 programs in good faith of receiving this year’s funds. 

“Councils and county councils with WAPs are frustrated to learn – at the eleventh hour in the current financial year – that the NSW Government wants to suddenly introduce a competitive grant arrangement for their share of this year's funding. The announcement has come out of the blue with no explanation.

“The reality is 2023/24 is almost over and we’ve done the work on the expectation the NSW government will pick up its usual share as it has done for the last 4 years of the 5-year WAP plans. 

“We feel the NSW Government should honour this year (after all they initiated the 5-year WAPs), pay Councils as expected, and if they want to change funding arrangements going forwards, first consult with us fully as key delivery partners who do the practical work on the ground,” he said.

The motion, which was seconded by Federation Council and received unanimous support from CMA member councils and county councils, sees the CMA agreeing to advocate for the NSW Government to honour the agreed / endorsed 5-year Weed Action Plans (WAPs) and associated funding commitments for 2023/24 by immediately releasing the funds councils are expecting. 

The resolution also calls for the NSW Government to consult local councils and county councils fully - and early - as respected delivery partners before introducing new changes to the scheme for future years.

Pictured (from left to right): Chairman of NSW Country Mayors, Jamie Chaffey, and Mayor Cr Tony Reneker

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:

Cr Tony Reneker
Mayor
T. 0448 535 004
E. tonyr@leeton.nsw.gov.au