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NSW is preparing a major offensive against a thorny weed that's rapidly spreading in the outback.
The state government has allocated $2.6 million to a co-ordinated effort to ring-fence and eradicate the invasive Hudson Pear in coming months.
Also known as the prickly pear, the cactus species was first detected at Lightning Ridge in the state's northwest in the 1960s.
It causes serious damage to the land it takes over, with its prickles harming native plants and animals, while its spikes can penetrate footwear and tyres.
Speaking in Lightning Ridge on Monday, Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders said record rainfall and flooding have created a "perfect storm" for the pest, on the back of a prolonged period of drought.
Some $600,000 of the funds will be rapidly released over the next six months to create a perimeter around the areas where the cactus is known to be growing.
From there, significant weed spraying will take place to eradicate the pest, the minister said.
Cochineal insects, which are effective at controlling the cactus, will also be released from a mass breeding facility in Lightning Ridge.
Two full-time positions will be created to lead the response to the cactus infestation through to 2027.
"There's no quick fix when it comes to Hudson Pear, but what this program does is ensure we can go hard with spraying for the next few months and have people on the ground overseeing the work," Mr Saunders said.
"Long-term we will utilise the cochineal to eat away at the infestations inside the containment line."
Mr Saunders said it was vital that local landholders assisted the program by reporting Hudson Pear sightings on their properties.
"As we've seen, it's a resilient plant that can explode if left unattended."
The program was welcomed by NSW Farmers, whose western division chair Gerard Glover said the cactus had been a problem for years.
"Biosecurity - both domestic and abroad - is a critical issue for our state, and it's pleasing to see this one being tackled," he said.
