BACKGROUND

Since the reformation of the VBT an important strategic action has been investing in developing community partnerships around the State. This approach aligns with the desired outcomes set out in the ‘Victorian Pest Management Framework namely, ‘Increasing community capacity to successfully respond to new and existing pest problems.’

The principals objective of the community partnership program is to support community partnerships and action to implement a voluntary compliance program to reduce the growth and spread of blackberry and to:

• Promote greater community understanding of the responsibility of private land managers to control blackberry.
• Raise awareness in the broader community of the impacts of uncontrolled blackberry on biodiversity, recreational activities and agricultural production.
• Achieve higher levels of compliance by supporting land managers to implement effective control programs.
• Involve public land managers on public/private interface to more effectively use the Good Neighbour Program to support work on private land.

Synergies have been created through the formation of partnerships with State and Local Government, Catchment and Management Authorities, community groups and industry. These partnerships are essential to developing a holistic approach to blackberry management and will continue to evolve and strengthen as we continue into the future.