Agriculture, big business and the gas fields: practical tools for weed hygiene at the mega-scale

摘要

The coal seam gas industry is big business in Queensland. A rapidly expanding network of gas fields, wells, pipelines and power lines criss-cross private and public lands. Constructing, operating and maintaining this infrastructure requires thousandsof associated vehicle, equipment and personnel movements across property boundaries every day. These activities have the potential to be a significant source of weed seed spread, both within the local area and further afield.So what do we do when weeds threaten not just the livelihoods of those on the land but also the reputation and bottom line of those in big business? And what role could preventative measures play in controlling weed spread at this mega-scale?Land managers from agriculture and big business alike are now turning to weed hygiene as a way to protect their interests. This paper provides an insight into the coal seam gas (CSG) industry's approach to weed hygiene and demonstrates how practical measures can be applied to prevent weed seed spread.