The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Territory Natural Resource Management  have been conducting the Katherine Neem Blitz Program since November.

DENR regional manager, Tahnee Thompson, said landholder participation is vital to fighting the highly invasive exotic species.

“Over 250 Katherine landholders have made the effort to register for the Neem Blitz, this is a record breaking participation effort and is expected to go a long way towards managing neem in our town.

“Controlling neem on private properties compliments the efforts by Katherine Town Council and the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics to control neem on land it manages.

“I would like to thank all those people who have taken part in the program and your efforts are appreciated.  I am looking forward to seeing the results of the hard work put in by landholders.

“Landholder participation in neem control is vital to conserving the biodiversity, recreational and aesthetic values of the town.

Neem was declared a weed in 2014 to control its spread (Class B) and prevent its introduction into the Northern Territory (Class C).

DENR staff will be visiting some land holders in February and March 2018 who received herbicide to see how they are progressing with their neem control.

Go to www.nt.gov.au/neem for more information about neem.