2015-09-15 Infrastructure and Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                           15 SEPTEMBER 2015



           In 2014/15 Council received the following disease notifications from Qld. Health:
             o     126 cryptosporidiosis (water borne*)
             o     43 salmonella unspecified
             o     32 salmonella, specified
             o     17 pertussis(whooping cough)
             o     13 campylobacter (food borne)
             o     7 measles (infectious)
             o     1 salmonella enteritis (food poisoning)

             *Note: Cryptosporidiosis represents the highest high number of notifications (126) in
             the various categories of notifiable disease. The primary source of infections are
             contaminated drinking water and swimming in contaminated swimming pools. A new
             public health initiative put forward for the current financial year to regulate swimming
             pools in Noosa Shire as a means of controlling this potential source of infection.
             There would appear to be grounds for Council to review the the proposal for licencing
             swimming pools based on this information.

(iii)   Pest and Vector Control Activities - 2014/2015 Financial Year Summary

           Investigated and resolved 118 customer service requests which include declared
             weeds, wild animal control and vectors (including mosquito, midge and vermin).
           Conducted a total of 6 aerial mosquito control treatments each covering 980 hectares
             – treatments not required during winter period.
           Continued routine mosquito light trapping at 6 main breeding locations. The traps
             inspected weekly, finding higher numbers after rain and high tides. Overall 4,971
             mosquitoes trapped and identified mainly as potential disease carriers.
           Rat baiting program continued with a total of 22 stations located within the three
             precincts of Hastings Street, Sunshine Beach and Peregian Beach.
           A total of 15kg or 1070 individual rat baits laid. No additional requests concerning
             increasing the number of stations or increasing numbers have been received.
           Received notifications from Qld. Health showing the usual spiking in mosquito borne
             diseases over summer months due to specific high rainfall events, including:
             (i)    119 Ross River virus;
             (ii) 13 Barmah Forest virus; and
             (iii) 2 Dengue Fever (most likely associated with residents infected in North
                    Queensland).
           Completed the annual pest plant management survey, including 1,823 private
             property inspections and treating 581km of public roads to remove pest plants. A
             total of 29 Notices to destroy Class 2 weeds and information sheets were served on
             property owners.
           Pest Management Plan now completed and implementation of recommended actions
             underway.
           Completed feral deer survey of 100 properties in Tinbeerwah in response to
             substantial property damage.
           Destroyed 30 feral deer in Cooroy area during the year.
           Extended the fox control program including “Dob in a Fox” to respond to increased
             fox activity and customer requests in coastal and urban areas.
           Continued to respond to feral dog attacks on stock, poultry and pets.




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