Wet Year Causes Big Problems with Flammable Weed

By Jenae Madden

ABC North and West SA

Topic: Invasive Species

Thursday, 2 July 2026, at 3:01 pm

Buffel grass is very common in Central Australia, the Pilbara, and the SA Arid Lands.

In short:

The South Australian government will keep funding for the buffel grass coordinator, but some people think the role needs to be stronger.

The weed has spread a lot across Central Australia and could reach Adelaide and western New South Wales.

What's next?

The Environment Minister says her department will keep asking for buffel grass to be listed as a weed of national significance.

Parts of Central Australia had their wettest year, causing a big increase in buffel grass, a highly invasive weed.

The grass was brought from Africa and Asia over 50 years ago to control dust and improve pasture, but heavy rain has made it spread across SA and the NT.

An advisor said it's scary to see the weed spread through the interior.

One expert says buffel grass could reach NSW in a few months.

Another expert says the weed is headed towards Port Pirie in South Australia.

He said it wouldn't take much for the weed to spread to Adelaide and then the rest of the state and into NSW.

It's worrying.

Buffel grass spreads quickly, dominates native plants, and can fuel bushfires.

It also affects Aboriginal cultural practices and native bush food.

Volunteers are working to remove buffel grass near Alice Springs.

Some farmers think buffel grass is a good food source for cattle in dry areas.

One expert is concerned the weed could reach the Flinders Ranges, which could become a World Heritage site.

Some groups want buffel grass to be declared a Weed of National Significance.

There are calls to strengthen weed management.

The South Australian government will extend the buffel grass coordinator role.

But some experts say the role needs to be stronger as the weed spreads across the state.

More action is needed to match the scale of the problem.

The Flinders Ranges are a big mountain range in South Australia.

The government needs more funding, about $2 million, to deal with the weed.

Buffel grass has already spread to important Indigenous sites.

The Environment Minister says funding will continue and the role will become a cross-agency position.

A policy officer said national coordination is very important.

She also said a strong state-based buffel grass coordinator is critical.

A landscape board said buffel grass does not respect boundaries and they're happy the coordinator role is continuing.

They will keep working with communities to manage the weed.

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