Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s Arum Lily Blitz scores major funding boost

A three-year funding extension for the region’s biggest conservation group to keep fighting arum lilies has been welcomed.

WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby confirmed a three-year, $368,000 contribution to Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s Arum Lily Blitz to keep the invasive South African weed species in check.

With the battle against the pest once almost surrendered, volunteers now believed they were making good progress against the bio-diversity threat.

“We are really pleased that the State Government recognises the need for a long-term approach to arum lily management through funding the Arum Lily Blitz for a further three years,” Blitz co-ordinator Genevieve Hanran-Smith said.

“The Blitz is a 30-plus-year vision and although considerable progress has been made over the last six years, a strong push is needed to bring unengaged landholders on board and to normalise arum lily control as a land management action that all landholders undertake.”

The funding will help the group engage with and support landholders and community groups, and aid partnerships with Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, local government, Main Roads and the Capes Foundation.

The funding also supported related activities such as mapping weeds through the group’s new Fieldbook app.

The Blitz funding was also welcomed by tourism operator Sean Blocksidge who said he signed up after becoming concerned efforts on his own property were not getting the outcomes he wanted.

“I was starting to question if we’d ever achieve full elimination and doubted my thoroughness,” he said.

“They recommended a shared-cost spraying campaign with them. A year later there are no arum lilies — a remarkable result that has transformed the bush. The shared blitz campaign totally worked.”

Mr Whitby said the funding came from $7.73 million overall for community-based projects harnessing the efforts of volunteers.

“Local community groups play such an important role in protecting WA’s unique and wonderful environment,” he said.

More than 50 projects were confirmed in the latest round.