NEWS

Fighting blackberry in the Mitta Valley
By David Boyle, Catchment and Agriculture Services
April 28, 2006

Victoria's Mitta Valley boasts some of the best trout waters in the state and perhaps some of the hardest to reach blackberry bushes.

The Mitta region has become a part of the North-East Blackberry Action Group and received $10,000 from the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce.

The taskforce promotes community ownership of blackberry management by employing the community weed model.

The model encourages all land managers to accept responsibility for the management of their blackberry and supports them to achieve positive results in an agreed timeframe.

Community-driven projects have achieved some remarkable results across the state.
"Their success is due to local knowledge and local interest, and coming up with ways to overcome the barriers to sustainable blackberry management," said Victorian Blackberry Taskforce Chairperson Lyn Coulston.

The Upper Murray Steering Committee is sending letters to landholders. The committee is excited about reducing the spread of blackberry across the valley and looks forward to seeing the landscape change within a few years.

Hugh Paton from Mitta was presented with a cheque from Lyn Coulston, Victorian Blackberry Taskforce Chair.