Pictured at the official opening are (from left):LDC Project Manager Georg Wandrag (right) with Whitsunday Shire Council representatives, from left:  Scott Hardy, Melissa Hayes, Cr Michelle Wright and Lynette Clarray.

Washdown facility opening

A weed washdown facility, jointly funded by LDC and Whitsunday Regional Council, has been constructed at the Scottville waste transfer station, and is available for anybody to use free of charge.

The automatic washdown facility was officially opened in Collinsville by Cr Michelle Wright, from the Whitsunday Regional Council, in August.

The facility was jointly funded by NQ Dry Tropics’ Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project and the Whitsunday Regional Council (WRC). LDC contributed $16,000 towards the purchase of the facility and WRC covered the installation costs.

The facility, at the Collinsville transfer station, Scottsville Road, is suitable for 4WDs, and is available for anybody to use free of charge. Sensors turn on the water spray automatically once a vehicle enters the pad, and the wash lasts one minute.

LDC Project Manager Georg Wandrag said the facility was an example of NQ Dry Tropics and WRC collaborating to tackle biosecurity issues in the Collinsville and Bowen region. 

“Reducing the spread of weeds, including weed seeds, is vital to good regional biosecurity practice,” Mr Wandrag said.

“It’s the most successful and cost-effective type of weed management because once a weed has become established, high costs can often make eradication impossible.

“Preventing weed spread is everybody’s business which is why I encourage everyone who is travelling the region’s network of rural roads to make use of this excellent facility. That includes utility, contracting and mine companies, council and landholders.”

The LDC has also hosted “Ínspect and clean machinery for plant animal and soil material” accredited training workshops for local contractors and landholders over the past two years, to ensure everyone who worked in the region was working to the same standard of practice to keep vehicles, machinery and plant clean.