{
  "id": 6191956,
  "title": "Alice Springs art exhibition highlights buffel grass devastation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/alice-springs-art-exhibition-highlights-buffel-grass-devastation",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T23:18:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-08/buffel-grass-art-weed-exhibition-native-plants-alice-springs/107123188"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A wet winter in parts of Central Australia has led to a surge in buffel grass, an invasive weed that is wreaking havoc on the region. Artists are turning the weed into art to raise awareness about its destructive impact. The National Biosecurity Council is expected to decide in December whether to add buffel grass to the list of weeds of national significance. Western Arrernte artist Carita Coultard's watercolour paintings showcase bush foods that she remembers collecting as a child, lamenting that they are now scarce due to buffel grass. Coultard and other Indigenous artists created an exhibition at the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens in Alice Springs, using buffel paper to highlight the issue. Volunteers in Alice Springs are battling buffel along the Todd River to protect valuable red gum trees that are threatened by the fire risk caused by the weed. A recent economic assessment found that the costs of buffel grass spread far outweigh the benefits to the pastoral sector. NT Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne has sought funding for buffel grass management, but the decision on its national significance is still pending.",
  "summary": "An art exhibition opening in Alice Springs today will shine a spotlight on the native plants driven out of Central Australia by the invasive weed, buffel grass.",
  "key_points": [
    "Buffel grass invasion harms Central Australia region",
    "Indigenous artists create exhibition to raise awareness",
    "Decision on buffel grass status pending in December"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}