Hawkesbury City Council (HCC) has opted to remain part of the Hawkesbury River County Council (HRCC), a collaborative body formed by four councils for effective weed management across the region. This outcome comes after a Tuesday’s vote in which councillors supported a recission motion by a decisive margin of 10 to 1. Labor’s Amanda Kotlash was the only councillor who opposed the rescission motion, while former Mayor Sarah McMahon recused herself from the vote after initially supporting the proposal to withdraw from the HRCC in August.

The HRCC is responsible for coordinating weed management efforts across Hawkesbury, Penrith, Hills, and Blacktown councils. Each council contributes $265,000 annually to support this initiative, which allows them to pool resources, share expertise, and access significant grant funding that no single council could secure on its own.

Councillor Nathan Zamprogno expressed relief that the Liberal councillors reversed their previous stance on the matter. “It was welcome to see the Liberal Councillors reading the room for a change,” he remarked. Zamprogno criticised McMahon’s recusal, stating, “I thought it was cynical that Clr McMahon, who had no valid reason to recuse herself, removed herself from the room just so she did not have to declare what her view on the matter would be.”

According to a recent state government report, weeds cost the state approximately $1.9 billion annually, underscoring the magnitude of the problem in the Hawkesbury region. The HRCC’s focus is on managing invasive weed species that not only threaten biodiversity but also pose significant risks to agricultural productivity.

HRCC General Manager, Chris Dewhurst told the Hawkesbury Post it was critical to have a coordinated approach to weed management. He highlighted the dire consequences of unmanaged weed infestations, particularly for local farmers. “The weeds we focus on are toxic to cattle and horses, causing sickness or even death, leading to further economic losses,” Dewhurst noted. He pointed out that a severe weed infestation could lead to complete river shutdowns, drastically affecting agricultural irrigation.

Dewhurst also pointed to the cost-effectiveness of the HRCC model. Currently, HCC pays approximately $265,000 per year for its membership, which amounts to just $1.34 per resident. In contrast, managing weeds independently would likely double this cost, making it financially imprudent. “It’s difficult to understand how anyone could propose a model where Hawkesbury could somehow get off cheaper,” he said, reflecting on the economic advantages of remaining in the partnership.

The importance of collaboration among councils cannot be overstated, especially in a region like Hawkesbury, where environmental conditions such as standing water and flooding exacerbate weed proliferation. Dewhurst said, “This relationship helps maintain positive interactions among councils, ensuring that they work together rather than operate in isolation.”