Gamba Action Program
The fight against gamba grass continues to go from strength to strength, with this year’s Gamba Action Program (GAP) opening today.
Now in its 15th year, the program supports landowners across the Top End in the control of gamba grass on their property, by providing free herbicide, loaning spray equipment, and offering weed management advice.
A record 3060 landholders picked up their free herbicide last wet season. Landowners across the Top End can collect 5 litres of free herbicide when multiple outlets open today. Residents in Darwin’s rural area can pick up their herbicide from the distribution outlet located at Freds Pass Reserve. The Katherine GAP starts on Friday 6 February 2026.
Darwin Regional Manager of the Weed Management Branch, Peter Ross, said the program also aligns with the work of Bushfires NT and the NT Fire and Rescue Service to minimise the threat of bushfires caused by excessive gamba grass ‘fuel loads’.
“Gamba grass is a Weed of National Significance and creates high fuel loads,” Mr Ross said. “This can cause uncontrollable, hot and intense fires that put people, properties and rural communities at risk.
“We will continue to work hard to coordinate the spraying of gamba grass across the Top End on government owned land, while also assisting private landholders in controlling gamba on their properties.”
Landholders on less than 3ha need to destroy all gamba grass on their properties, while landholders on larger blocks of more than 3ha must maintain gamba grass free buffers on boundaries, tracks and around infrastructure.
To find out more about the Gamba Action Program, including distribution points and the process to obtain your herbicide and/or book loan equipment, visit the Northern Territory Government website.
