2020-02-11 P&E Agenda - Item 5 - Attachment 2 - Draft Noosa Biosecurity Plan 2020

3.2      Why do we need a Biosecurity Plan?
There are approximately 8.7million plant and animal species in the world and some of these
represent a biosecurity risk to Australia and Noosa. Plants and animals have been colonising
Australia from other parts of the world for thousands of years and recent occupation, settlement and
development have dramatically increased the abundance and diversity of introduced species.
Since European settlement several thousand plant and animal species have been introduced into
Australia. Many of these species are now well established and unlikely to be eradicated. Introduced
species can significantly impact on biodiversity, economies and community health. Alternatively
some introduced species can fulfil an ecosystem function, absorbing nutrients, protecting soil from
erosion and providing habitat for fauna.
Council has shire-wide jurisdiction concerning biosecurity matters but under the Biosecurity Act 2014
all landowners are responsible for biosecurity matters on their land. The Noosa Biosecurity Plan
2020 identifies priority invasive plants and animals that can be a problem in Noosa Shire and
management actions for landowners that are practical and feasible. Importantly consultation, raising
awareness and collaboration with key stakeholders and the Noosa community helps build capacity
to manage biosecurity matters across the shire.

3.3      What are invasive biosecurity matters?
The Qld Biosecurity Act 2014 identifies invasive species that are a threat to biodiversity, the economy
and the community. There are generally two types of biosecurity matters relevant to local
government jurisdiction:
     Schedule 1 Prohibited matters: Invasive species that are a potential threat, however most
      have not yet been recorded in Queensland. One of these species has been recorded in Noosa
      Shire.
     Schedule 2 Restricted matters: Invasive species that are already a threat in Queensland. 43
      species have been recorded in Noosa Shire so far.
For prohibited and restricted matter there are 7 different categories of management controls
depending on the listed species concerned. Biosecurity Queensland and Noosa Council have certain
jurisdiction with invasive plants and animals as shown in Table 1.




                          Red deer (Cervus elaphus) Photo: Queensland DAF




Noosa Biosecurity Plan 2020                                                                     Page 7