Task force fights Koster's curse in the Wet Tropics

From Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 October, the Koster’s curse task force visited Mamu country in Wooroonooran National Park to make further inroads to removing these highly invasive plants. Led by the Mamu Aboriginal Corporation through Mamu Environmental Services, the team included workers from the Authority, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Biosecurity QLD, and the Cassowary Coast and Tablelands regional councils.

Koster’s curse has been described as Australia’s new lantana, which is regarded as one of the worst weeds in the country. A slow growing, invasive weed that smothers pastures and the native understorey of tropical rainforests, it poses a threat to our Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

In Australia the original infestation (just south of Port Douglas in Julatten) has been contained through the efforts of the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group, Mareeba Shire Council and local landowners. The Wooroonooran National Park infestation was discovered about four years ago.

The Mamu Aboriginal Corporation has taken charge of the removal of Koster’s curse on Mamu country in Wooroonooran National Park, after they were approached by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council to undertake weed eradication work funded through the feral pest initiative. The work commenced in September of 2018.

The Authority’s World Heritage Connections team attended the task force’s activities to film the work for a video news release which was distributed to regional and other media. Both WIN TV and Channel Seven picked up the story.

Published: 12th Nov 2019