North West Hudson Pear Taskforce

Land owners and residents of the Warrumbungle are being urged to contact the Castlereagh Macquarie County Council and report any sittings of the invasive and damaging Hudson Pear.
  
Warrumbungle Shire Council is a member of the Castlereagh Macquarie County Council, which manages the weed control process across the Warrumbungle Local Government Area (LGA) and is a part of the Hudson Pear Task Force (HPTF) 

The Hudson Pear Task Force (HPTF) was established in the early 2000s. This group consisted of relevant local government and state agencies, mining associations, Landcare, landowners, and regional natural resource management bodies. The group meets twice a year to communicate and share information, discuss lessons learnt and collaborate on ideas for the region. A Hudson Pear Management Plan was developed by the HPTF in 2006 and is currently under review.

The Hudson Pear Task Force (HPTF) is working with NSW Department of Primary Industries in supporting a biological control approach using a cochineal bug, which is one of Australia’s success stories when dealing with Hudson Pear, and is playing a significant role in controlling the various prickly pear species in Australia particularly in the drier, warmer areas. 

Hudson Pear, an extremely invasive cactus, has been found in the Warrumbungle LGA on the Newell and Oxley Highways. This infestation is also across the Pilliga State Forest as well as adjoining LGAs, that are also members of Castlereagh Macquarie County Council, which is a concern as it is not far from the Warrumbungle National Park.

Make sure you contact the relevant person if you have sighted this weed as these calls have led to Biosecurity Officers being able to correctly identify the cacti and engage with the landowner to actively control these incursions. 

To find out more about getting your hands on the biocontrol agent for Hudson pear, contact Castlereagh Macquarie County Council Weed Biosecurity Officer Mat Savage on 0427 253 463 or NW Cacti Control Coordinator Jo Skewes on 0438 353 519 or go to Northern Slopes Landcare Associations.   

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Last Updated: 02 May 2022