Burrumbuttock Hay Runners are preparing to visit Hughenden in February

Already 130 generous truck drivers have signed on for the 12^th hay run which will depart Darlington Point on February 23 at and arrive in Hughenden on February 25, dropping supplies to areas such as Julia Creek, Richmond, Muttaburra and Torrens Creek. 

But the generous act has some local councils on edge with fears the hay may jeopardise pest management plans established in the area if organisers don’t have a Weed Hygiene Certificate.

Hay Runners founder Brendan Farrell said the team would cover one of their biggest areas and were planning to take as many supplies with them as they could.

“Those boys up there they are all big farmers so if we can give them all a road train load each or whatever, it all depends,” he said. “It’s an emotional roller coaster these hay runs. One minute you are laughing and cheering and the next minute you are bawling your eyes out because you have seen dead stock on the side of the road.”

Invasive weeds such as Parthenium, Turkey Bush and Prickly Acacia have become a serious issue parts of the North West with the Flinders Shire Council establishing a Biosecurity Act and Good Neighbour Program to protect the area from further outbreaks.

Flinders Mayor Jane McNamara said the hay could bring unwanted weeds and she would take the issue to council on January 19.

“I’m hoping that we have all had a really good wet season and wont need (the hay),” she said.

“There have been storms from July last year across a lot of the shire but there are some places that haven’t had any rain and no doubt they will be very welcoming (of the hay). I just don’t want the council to be distributing hay and then we find that it has weeds having put in so much effort. (The Hay Runners) really need to be good corporate citizens and make sure all is free of weeds...we don’t need anymore up here.” 

Richmond Shire Mayor John Wharton said the Hay Runners’ help would be appreciated but issues of weeds needed to be considered. 

“They say what is grown in the catchment stays in the catchment but saying that what those guys have done with their hay runs is fantastic...we would just like to see a good wet season.”