2015-06-29 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                    29 JUNE 2015


An approved Pest Survey Program enables Council’s authorised officers to enter private property
to facilitate the control of declared pests and monitor compliance under the Act. Section 241 (1)
of the Act provides for the development of an approved Pest Survey Program as follows:

The chief executive of a pest operational board, or a local government by resolution, may
approve a program (a ‘pest survey program’) under which authorised persons appointed by the
chief executive, pest operational board or the chief executive officer of the local government may
enter places to monitor compliance with the Act.

Section 241(4)(f) of the Act states a Pest Survey Program must be no longer than three (3)
months’ duration. The three monthly programs are proposed to occur on the following dates:

1.   Survey Program 1 - 03/07/15 to 30/09/15 for the localities of Cooroy, Cooroy Mountain,
     Timbeerwah, Cooroibah and that part of Doonan that is within the Noosa Council boundary;

2.   Survey Program 2 - 01/10/15 to 31/12/15 for the localities of Black Mountain, Federal, and
     those parts of Ridgewood and Eerwah Vale that are within the Noosa Council boundary;

3.   Survey Program 3 - 01/01/16 to 31/03/16 for the localities of Kin Kin, Pinbarren, Cooran
     and that part of Como that is within the Noosa Council boundary; and

4.   Survey Program 4 - 01/04/16 to 30/06/16 for the localities of Pomona, Lake MacDonald,
     Ringtail Creek, Cootharaba and Boreen Point.

Program Methodology and Delivery

A copy of the Pest Survey Program will be available at Council’s Customer Service Centre and
each program will be advertised in the Noosa News prior to its commencement.

Each survey will be implemented by Council’s Pest and Vector Officers in conjunction with
declared pest control activities on Council land. This ensures an efficient delivery for maximum
benefit to both community and Council’s assets.

Council’s Pest and Vector Officers will seek voluntary compliance and collaborate with
landholders wherever possible to facilitate the control of declared pests.

Where pests are located on a property and a pest control notice is required to be served, a fact
sheet will be sent to the owner outlining the requirements of the legislation and advising of the
option to develop a pest management plan for the property. A property owner/ occupier electing
to develop such a plan will be provided with assistance to develop a suitable plan.

If the owner fails to comply with the requirements of the notice, the Act provides for the property
to be entered by a Council contractor to undertake the required work. Costs can be recovered via
Council rates if necessary under the authority of Section 142 of the Local Government Act 2009.

Previous Council Consideration

The Council previously passed a Resolution to approve the Pest Survey Programs conducted in
the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.
Finance & Risk
With an increasing number of residents moving to the region (particularly the hinterland areas)
with sometimes limited understanding of rural lifestyles, declared pests can present a problem on
large and small acreage as well as urban fringe areas.



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