Prickly customer: Joint taskforce targets latest generation of Hudson pear
A joint taskforce has regrouped for another attack on one of NSW’s most fearsome weeds – the Hudson pear - as part of a concerted effort to eradicate the highly invasive species from Quanda Reserve in NSW’s Central West.
The Central West Hudson Pear Taskforce converged on the Crown reserve, located between Coonamble and Coonabarabran, with an 18 strong team to painstakingly line search a 28 hectare area.
Armed with 140 litres of chemical spray, the team sought out and sprayed up to 1,000 Hudson pear plants, many of which were less than 15 centimetres in height.
The joint operation involved Crown Lands, Central West Local Land Services, North West Local Land Services, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Ag and Biosecurity, Castlereagh Macquarie County Council, Bogan Shire Council, Forbes Shire Council, Parkes Shire Council, and Weddin Shire Council.
Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia pallida) is a Mexican native cactus first detected in the Lightning Ridge area in the 1960s. The extremely prickly cactus has spines encased with a detachable sheath that can remain embedded even after the spine is removed.
Without regular monitoring and treatment, Hudson pear will rapidly spread through neighbouring properties. The prickly menace is a ‘regional priority’ for eradication as part of the Central West Regional Weed Management Plan. Its long dangerous spines can injure people, kill wildlife and livestock and penetrate car tyres. The weed crowds out native plants and degrades the value of agricultural land. It is estimated Hudson pear has infested up to 100,000 hectares of land in NSW.
This is the third straight year the taskforce has conducted a walk-through of Quanda Reserve to keep the Hudson pear at bay. The program has been successful, with the latest charge eliminating the next generation of weeds by targeting juvenile plants that were trying to gain a foothold.
Quanda Reserve, established in 1963, is home to significant mallee vegetation and serves as a habitat for various threatened species. Its primary vegetation includes Mallee and Red Box Open Woodland, Mallee Shrubland with Spinifex, and Poplar Box Open Woodland which are poorly represented in conservation areas, making the reserve ecologically valuable.
The reserve provides habitat for the endangered Kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) and the vulnerable Superb Parrot (Polytelis swainsonii), along with other threatened flora and fauna.
For bird enthusiasts, Quanda reserve offers opportunities to observe various species, with records indicating sightings of 31 different bird species.
The reserve also holds cultural significance, containing numerous Aboriginal sites, including scarred trees, reflecting the rich heritage of the Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan people.
Crown Lands Area Manager North West Shaun Barker said:
“Hudson pear is an incredibly dangerous weed that, if left unchecked, can destroy large swathes of land. It’s really important we do everything we can to eradicate this prickly customer from Quanda Reserve.
“It’s going to take a lot of ongoing effort, but we are already seeing a reduction in the number of plants regrowing after each successive walk through, which is a great result.”
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
“The NSW Government is focused on building better communities, which is why we support this joint initiative to target a particularly nasty invasive weed that threatens our way of life.
“It’s great to see a continuing multi-year effort by Crown Lands and other agencies to contain the Hudson pear to protect the reserve and its biodiversity and cultural significance, as well as safeguard adjoining lands.”