Moyne Shire will get $150,000 over three years to tackle the problem of weeds and vermin on the municipality’s road verges. 

Warrnambool City Council has been granted nearly $20,000 under the same scheme. Announcing the funding at Port Fairy, member for South West Coast Denis Napthine said local councils had recently inherited the burden of controlling roadside weeds following years of confusion about who was responsible.

“Adjoining landowners were once considered to be responsible, but the recent Bailey Report recommended that councils are best placed to control weeds and rabbits on local roadsides,” Dr Napthine said. “This program will help our local councils to do just that.”

A total of $7.8 million of state funding has been allocated to Victoria’s 56 councils.

Moyne Shire, with its extensive network of rural roads, has received the maximum allocation.

“The amount of funding is based in the length of rural roads the councils manage,” Dr Napthine said.

Moyne Shire has many areas where roadside weeds are well-established, ranging from the highly visible boxthorn and gorse to less obvious but highly invasive species. Those that come under the regionally prohibited and controlled categories will be targeted.