Approved Document OPW24-0047 Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort Turf & Vegetation Management Plan 2024-25

1. Pest Identification and Monitoring:

       •   Identify common pests, including insects, weeds, and diseases, that affect
           turfgrass on golf courses in SE QLD.

       •   Implement regular monitoring programs to assess pest populations and identify
           pest hotspots.

       •   Use scouting techniques, such as visual inspections, trapping, and sampling, to
           monitor pest activity and population dynamics.

2. Cultural Practices:

       •   Implement cultural practices that promote healthy turfgrass and minimize pest
           pressure, such as proper mowing, irrigation, and fertilization.

       •   Adjust cultural practices based on pest monitoring data and environmental
           conditions to prevent pest outbreaks.

3. Biological Control:

       •   Introduce natural enemies of turf pests, such as predatory insects, parasitoids,
           and microbial pathogens, to control pest populations.

       •   Enhance habitat diversity and biological control by maintaining naturalized
           areas, planting insectary plants, and conserving beneficial insect populations.

4. Mechanical and Physical Control:

       •   Use mechanical methods, such as hand-pulling weeds and mechanical removal
           of thatch, to manage pests without the use of chemicals.

       •   Implement physical barriers, such as mulches or covers, to exclude pests from
           sensitive areas or prevent weed germination.

5. Chemical Control:

       •   Use pesticides judiciously and as a last resort, following the principles of IPM.

       •   Select pesticides with low toxicity to non-target organisms and minimal
           environmental impact.

       •   Rotate chemical classes to prevent the development of pesticide resistance in
           pest populations.

       •   Apply pesticides according to label instructions, considering factors such as
           application timing, dosage, and environmental conditions.

6. Cultural and Biological Control of Weeds:

       •   Implement cultural practices that promote dense, healthy turfgrass stands,
           which can outcompete weeds for resources.

       •   Use biological control agents, such as herbivorous insects or pathogens specific
           to target weed species, to suppress weed populations.