Latest news with #DPIRD
West Australian
2 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
WA Government awards Adelaide company nearly $400,000 to combat European Starlings with AI
The WA Government is turning to artificial intelligence to scare off European starlings from fruit crops and livestock feed along the south coast, awarding an Adelaide company a nearly $400,000 tender. The project will hinge on devices capable of sensing the bird, classed as a pest in Australia, from up to 100m away and will aim to deploy 20 portable, automated acoustic surveillance devices throughout high-risk habitats along about 700kms of WA's south coast. The $373,230 tender was awarded to Adelaide-based company Supersensory Technologies earlier this month. About 400kms west of the South Australian border is covered by the project as well as about 300kms between Cape Arid and Hopetoun. The AI-geared devices will be installed as part of a Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development trapping program for the avian pests that has run since the 1970s. DPIRD senior research scientist Dr Susan Campbell said the automated acoustic surveillance devices would help bolster WA's biosecurity defences against European starlings. 'Scaling up our automated field response with these new devices increases our surveillance footprint both spatially and temporally, enabling DPIRD to mount a rapid response to any verified starling incursion,' she said. 'Commencing in the 1970s, a near continuous early detection and rapid response management program has ensured that WA remains free from established starling populations. 'However, because starlings are firmly established throughout eastern Australia, incursions represent an ongoing risk to WA's agriculture, environment and socio-cultural assets.' The project is designed to prevent the encroachment of the birds from eastern Australia, after a breeding pair were located and removed from an Esperance house late last year. It marked the first detection on the south coast in more than a decade, and sparked a rapid biosecurity response. European starlings are a 'highly adaptable' bird, according to Dr Campbell, that can disperse over large distances and rapidly breed under good conditions. Starlings can impact horticulture, grain, and livestock industries — damaging fruit crops, like cherries and grapes, and consuming high volumes of livestock feed. Dr Campbell said the devices would have the ability to constantly capture and process acoustic information through a starling-specific 'machine learning algorithm'. She said the project would help to 'scale up' the department's ongoing surveillance of the pest. 'The devices then remotely communicate plausible starling detections for manual verification in close to 'real-time',' she said.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Alert issued to residents and travellers after dangerous find on side of Aussie roads
Aussie residents in the west are being urged to keep an eye out for an invasive grass that can pose a serious risk after multiple sightings recently. Gamba grass looks harmless enough, but the weed outcompetes native grasses having a deleterious impact on the local environment's biodiversity and also increasing the fire risk of the area it colonises. Recent routine surveillance in the Kimberley region of Western Australia by the state's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) found several immature gamba grass plants along several roads, prompting authorities to urge residents, workers and travellers in the area to report any others they see. The tropical perennial grass species, which was brought to Australia in the 1940s as a way to help feed cattle, grows in dense and tall clumps. "It is has become a significant weed across northern Australia due to its ability to grow to over four metres high and form dense patches, which can burn at high intensity — posing a risk to flora and fauna, livestock and human life," DPIRD's regional biosecurity coordinator Lindsay Strange said. "While the recent detections have been removed, it's important for DPIRD to know of any new sightings of the weed so department officers can take action." 🏝️ Invasive grass taking over island sanctuary off Australia 🦌 Aussie town on high alert for invasive pest: 'Spilling over the border' 🪴 Warning after silent garden killer claims five lives The grass is native to Africa but was widely promoted to the pasture industry and planted in the 1980s. It has now become a huge pest in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. WA has been working to eradicate the weed, but says the help of the public is needed. While the species was listed as a weed of national significance in 2012, models estimate that it could potentially invade 380,000 square kilometres — bigger than the entire country of Japan. Speaking to Yahoo News, Dr Carol Booth from the Invasive Species Council raised the alarm over the threat posed by the grass at the start of summer last year. "At the moment gamba grass has invaded about four per cent of the area it could invade, so it's one of these grasses, where you look into the future and you just want to cry. It's just really concerning,' she said. "The fires that it fuels burn five to 20 times more intensely than native grasses do. That's the scary thing," she added. According to the DPIRD, the grass has strappy leaves that can grow up to 60 centimetres in length, with a distinctive white midrib, which are covered with soft hairs, while fluffy flower heads form on tall stems between April and June, depending on weather conditions. Gamba grass remains green long into the dry season, when most native grasses have hayed off. Gamba grass sightings can be easily reported via DPIRD's MyPestGuide Reporter app or to its Pest and Disease Information Service on (08) 9380 3080
Perth Now
06-06-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Hundreds of trees to be chopped down at beloved Perth park
At least 300 trees are set to be cleared from the Hyde Park islands as part of a blitz to eradicate the polyphagous shot-hole borer. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on Wednesday said it was working with the City of Vincent to remove up to 300 host plants — including native and non-WA native trees — from the lake's two islands over the next four to six weeks. DPIRD would not confirm how many infected trees had been removed since works began on May 19. 'The only WA native species on the Hyde Park islands are Melaleuca rhaphiophylla and Eucalyptus rudis,' a spokesperson told The West. 'Other species being removed include eastern states Casuarina spp. Melaleuca spp. and Eucalyptus spp. and non-native woody weeds including Erythrina x sykesii and Ficus sp.' The PSHB — which is native to southeast Asia — is a small beetle which burrows into trees and infects them with a fungus that slowly kills them from the inside. The only way to eradicate the beetle is to remove the infected trees. The only way to eradicate the beetle is to remove the infected trees. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian 'DPIRD is continuing to work in close collaboration with the City of Vincent to manage PSHB in Hyde Park, as part of the nationally funded and coordinated emergency bio-security response,' the spokesperson said. 'PSHB surveillance and management will continue in Hyde Park to protect the high value fig and London plane trees.' Thirteen infested trees at Hyde Park have already been removed, with another 33 pruned to their limit. A further 45 have been treated with insecticides as part of an ongoing chemical trial. Thirteen infested trees at Hyde Park have already been removed, with another 33 pruned to their limit. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian City of Vincent mayor Alison Xamon said she was 'deeply saddened' to hear the beetle had burrowed its way onto the lake's islands. She said the city would plant up to 4000 new plants and mature trees on the lake's islands. 'Losing the tree is the last thing anyone wants to see, but DPIRD have determined this precaution is necessary to stop the borer spreading to other healthy trees at the park,' Ms Xamon told The West. 'Following DPIRD's works, we will be acting quickly on our three-year restoration program which has been formed in partnership with industry experts. She said the city would plant up to 4000 new plants and mature trees on the lake's islands. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian 'About 4000 new plants, that will be resilient to the borer and climate change, will be planted on the islands this winter including mature trees. 'We previously restored the eastern island in 2012, which gives us confidence that our program will see the islands flourish again.' It comes just days after the State Government announced local councils could apply for the first round of its WA Tree Recovery Local Government Grant Program. Councils can receive up to $1140 in funding for each tree that is removed as a result of PSHB, but the City of Vincent is yet to apply for funding. PSHB has been confirmed in more than 80 suburbs across Perth since it was first detected in August 2021.
West Australian
06-06-2025
- General
- West Australian
Locals urged to report invasive grass putting native species under threat
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is urging Kununurra residents to be on the look out for gamba grass, a voracious weed which threatens native grass species and elevates fire risk. Recent routine surveillance by DPIRD detected several immature gamba grass plants, also known as andropogon gayanus, along several roads near Kununurra. Regional biosecurity co-ordinator Lindsay Strange called on the community to support DPIRD's efforts to eradicate the weed by reporting sightings of the weed tussocks. 'Gamba grass is a tropical perennial grass that was introduced into Australia in the 1940s as a feed crop for cattle,' he said. 'It has become a significant weed across northern Australia due to its ability to grow to over four metres high and form dense patches which can burn at high intensity, posing a risk to flora and fauna, livestock and human life. 'There are a number of options to remove gamba grass and DPIRD has been working across the Kimberley to eradicate the weed for many years. 'While the recent detections have been removed, it's important for DPIRD to know of any new sightings of the weed so department officers can take action.' Gamba grass grows to form tussocks that are bigger, taller and more dense than native grass species and has strappy leaves that can grow up to 60cm long, with a distinctive white midrib covered with soft hairs. It also features fluffy flower heads on tall stems between April and June, depending on weather conditions, and remains green long into the dry season, when most native grasses have hayed off. Gamba grass sightings can be reported via DPIRD's MyPestGuide Reporter app or to its Pest and Disease Information Service on 9380 3080 or padis@
West Australian
04-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
At least 300 trees to be cleared from Hyde Park as part of shot-hole borer blitz
At least 300 trees are set to be cleared from the Hyde Park islands as part of a blitz to eradicate the polyphagous shot-hole borer. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on Wednesday said it was working with the City of Vincent to remove up to 300 host plants — including native and non-WA native trees — from the lake's two islands over the next four to six weeks. DPIRD would not confirm how many infected trees had been removed since works began on May 19. 'The only WA native species on the Hyde Park islands are Melaleuca rhaphiophylla and Eucalyptus rudis,' a spokesperson told The West. 'Other species being removed include eastern states Casuarina spp. Melaleuca spp. and Eucalyptus spp. and non-native woody weeds including Erythrina x sykesii and Ficus sp.' The PSHB — which is native to southeast Asia — is a small beetle which burrows into trees and infects them with a fungus that slowly kills them from the inside. The only way to eradicate the beetle is to remove the infected trees. 'DPIRD is continuing to work in close collaboration with the City of Vincent to manage PSHB in Hyde Park, as part of the nationally funded and coordinated emergency bio-security response,' the spokesperson said. 'PSHB surveillance and management will continue in Hyde Park to protect the high value fig and London plane trees.' Thirteen infested trees at Hyde Park have already been removed, with another 33 pruned to their limit. A further 45 have been treated with insecticides as part of an ongoing chemical trial. City of Vincent mayor Alison Xamon said she was 'deeply saddened' to hear the beetle had burrowed its way onto the lake's islands. She said the city would plant up to 4000 new plants and mature trees on the lake's islands. 'Losing the tree is the last thing anyone wants to see, but DPIRD have determined this precaution is necessary to stop the borer spreading to other healthy trees at the park,' Ms Xamon told The West. 'Following DPIRD's works, we will be acting quickly on our three-year restoration program which has been formed in partnership with industry experts. 'About 4000 new plants, that will be resilient to the borer and climate change, will be planted on the islands this winter including mature trees. 'We previously restored the eastern island in 2012, which gives us confidence that our program will see the islands flourish again.' It comes just days after the State Government announced local councils could apply for the first round of its WA Tree Recovery Local Government Grant Program. Councils can receive up to $1140 in funding for each tree that is removed as a result of PSHB, but the City of Vincent is yet to apply for funding. PSHB has been confirmed in more than 80 suburbs across Perth since it was first detected in August 2021.
