A program cracking down on pests and weeds across the Southern Downs has been recognised with a national biosecurity award.
The Froggatt Awards are given out by the Invasive Species Council every year to those who have made a major contribution to protecting Australia's native plants and animals, ecosystems and people from invasive species.
They are named in honour of Australian entomologist Walter Froggatt, who in the 1930s warned of the dangers of releasing the cane toad into Australia to control beetle infestations in sugar cane.
The scheme, introduced in 2017, has been fighting pests including African boxthorn, blackberry, cacti, rabbits and wild dogs.
Invasive Species Council CEO Andrew Cox said the scheme empowers people to be actively involved in biosecurity.
"This extraordinary scheme will save the region $96 million over the next 30 years in environmental and social costs and will have untold benefits for the local community," he said.
