Rangers say a bushfire that caused significant environmental damage at the major NT national park was not fuelled by gamba grass. But the local tourism body fears the weed's spread could cause more dangerous bushfires.
abc.net.au/news/nt-litchfield-fire-deliberately-lit-gamba-grass-spread/102756454The peak tourism body for Litchfield National Park says the future of the major Northern Territory attraction is hanging in the balance due to the invasive weed gamba grass running rampant.
Litchfield Regional Tourism Association secretary Deborah Moyle said the fire should be a wake-up call for all levels of government to intensify efforts to eradicate the invasive weed. Top End Parks' district manager Andrew Turner said the blaze was reported to police after concerns arose that it may have been deliberately lit."One fire got a really strong go on it, especially with the strong winds over the weekend, and travelled some 18 or so kilometres in a straight line … It has caused a fair bit of environmental damage."Mr Turner said there were several fires around that location which had ignited at the same time.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the federal environment department said the government was set to implement a gamba grass control program later this year, in conjunction with the NT government.
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