Biosecurity Surveillance Program 2027-2031 · Report

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                       8 SEPTEMBER 2026


Background
Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, local governments have a responsibility to help manage biosecurity
risks within their local government area, including risks associated with invasive plants and animals.
Effective management of these species is essential to protect the region's environmental values,
agricultural productivity, biodiversity and community amenity.
To support these responsibilities, the Act enables authorised officers to enter properties and
undertake inspections for prohibited and restricted invasive species as part of an approved
Biosecurity Surveillance Program. Such programs provide a structured and coordinated approach to
monitoring biosecurity risks, identifying emerging threats and promoting landholder compliance with
their general biosecurity obligation. In accordance with the Act, surveillance programs must be
approved by resolution of Council and publicly notified before inspections can commence.
Council has undertaken property-based biosecurity surveillance programs across the Noosa region
for many years as part of its ongoing invasive species management activities. The current program
was approved by Council in 2020, following an earlier Pest Survey Program adopted in 2016 under
the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. The proposed Biosecurity
Surveillance Program 2027-2031 continues this established approach and supports Council's
ongoing commitment to proactive biosecurity management.
Approved Biosecurity Surveillance Program
In accordance with section 235 of the Biosecurity Act 2014, a biosecurity program authorised by a
local government must be authorised by resolution of Council. Following approval, Council is
required to undertake consultation and public notification of the program in accordance with sections
239 and 240 of the Act.

The surveillance program will provide relevant officers the necessary authority to enter properties in
accordance with the Biosecurity Act 2014 (section 233), to facilitate a coordinated approach to the
management of invasive species across the region.
It is proposed that the surveillance program would consist of an annual inspection each year for the
period of 1st January 2027 to 31st December 2031. The region would be divided into four survey
areas with a different area surveyed each quarter. Inspections would be undertaken in each area at
the following times:
   1. Survey Area 1: 1 January to 31 March each year until the end of 2031 for the localities of
      Cooroy, Cooroy Mountain, Tinbeerwah, Cooroibah and that part of Doonan that is within the
      Noosa boundary;
   2. Survey Area 2: 1 April to 30 June each year until the end of 2031 for the localities of Black
      Mountain, Federal, and those parts of Ridgewood and Eerwah Vale that are within the Noosa
      Council boundary;
   3. Survey Area 3: 1 July to 30 September each year until the end of 2031 for the localities of
      Kin Kin, Pinbarren, Cooran and that part of Como that is within the Noosa Council boundary;
      and
   4. Survey Area 4: 1 October to 31 December each year until the end 2031 for the localities of
      Pomona, Lake MacDonald, Ringtail Creek, Cootharaba and Boreen Point.
The Surveillance Program will involve authorised Council officers visiting a selection of private
properties in each area (usually with the owner present) to record the presence or absence of
prohibited or restricted invasive plant/s or animal/s using a mobile mapping system (ArcGIS Field
Maps App).
Examples of Prohibited plants or animals are Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), Water Soldiers
(Stratiotes aloides), Red Eared Slider Turtles (Tachemys scripta elegans) and American Corn
Snakes (Pantherophis guttatus);
Examples       of   Restricted    invasive    plants   or     animals   are      Fireweed     (Senecio
madagascariensis), Groundsel Bush (Baccharis halimifolia), European fox (Vulpes vulpes) and
Feral Red Deer (Cervus elaphus).
If prohibited invasive species are found on a property this information will be referred to Biosecurity
QLD for their follow up as they are the lead agency for prohibited invasive species.

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                        8 SEPTEMBER 2026


If restricted invasive species are found on a property, the landowner is formally advised and provided
with information on what has been found and how to carry out control of the plant/s or animal/s on
their property. A written or verbal request to take reasonable action to control the plant/s or animal/s
may also be provided at this time.
If the prescribed action is not taken, the council officer may issue a statutory order under s.373 of
the Act requesting that control be undertaken within 30 days. If this order is not complied with it, the
Council officer could then arrange for a contractor to enter and clear the property of the restricted
invasive plant/s or animal/s at the landowner’s expense.
During the past four years of the previous Biosecurity Surveillance program (2020 – 2024) a total of
36 written requests were made to landowners for the control of restricted invasive plant/s on their
properties. This resulted in 10 Biosecurity orders being issued and only 4 instances where enter and
clear action was taken.
As the statistics of the previous surveillance program indicate, the focus of the program is primarily
about educating landowners about the invasive species that are present in our area and how they
can be effectively managed on their properties to reduce their impact.


Link to Corporate Plan
Theme No 1 - Environment
1.1 Maintain and improve water quality and the health of waterways, wetlands, and catchments
1.2 Partner with landowners and community groups to manage, protect and regenerate natural
environment assets, improve resilience, and incorporate Indigenous knowledge.
1.5 Deliver expanded vegetation networks, rehabilitation and habitat across the Shire and advocate
to the state and federal governments to assist funding environmental action




Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting, 18 June 2020, Planning & Environment Committee

BIOSECURITY SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM 2020-2024
That Council note the report by the Pest and Contracts Officer to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 9 June 2020 and approve the following Biosecurity Surveillance Program
for the Noosa Council region in accordance with section 235 of the Biosecurity Act 2014:
A. Survey Area 1: 1 July to 30 September each year until the end of 2024, for the localities of Cooroy,
Cooroy Mountain, Tinbeerwah, Cooroibah and that part of Doonan that is within the Noosa Council
boundary;
B. Survey Area 2: 1 October to 31 December each year until the end of 2024, for the localities of
Black Mountain, Federal, and those parts of Ridgewood and Eerwah Vale that are within the Noosa
Council boundary;
C. Survey Area 3: 1 January to 31 March each year until the end of 2024, for the localities of Kin Kin,
Pinbarren, Cooran and that part of Como that is within the Noosa Council boundary; and
D. Survey Area 4: 1 April to 30 June each year until the end 2024, for the localities of Cootharaba
and BoreenPoint.


Finance
Property inspections will require approximately 1 day per week of an officer’s time, or approximately
12 days in total, to complete each quarterly survey area for the four-year duration of the surveillance
program. The work is considered core business of the Biosecurity Team and is funded as part of the
operational budget.

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                     8 SEPTEMBER 2026


Risk & Opportunities
Early detection of new invasive species in our region is critical for preventing them from becoming
established and has significant benefits in terms of reducing their impact on our environment,
economy and social amenity. The costs associated with managing invasive species increase
significantly as they become more established and widespread.

With an increasing number of residents moving to the region (particularly the hinterland areas) with
sometimes limited understanding of rural lifestyles, invasive plants and animals can present a
problem on large and small acreage as well as urban fringe areas.
Failure to deliver the nominated surveillance program may:
   •   put at risk the control of invasive plants and animals throughout the region, causing
       environmental damage, loss of biodiversity, agricultural productivity and community amenity;
       and
   •   result in Council failing to meet its obligations under the Biosecurity Act 2014 to ensure
       prohibited and restricted matter is managed in accordance with the Act.
A formal response to the Enterprise Risk & Opportunity Framework identifies a HIGH risk rating of
failing to endorse this program:
                                                                                          Inherent
Risk Description            Risk Category Existing Controls LikelihoodConsequence
                                                                                          Risk
Failure to detect and                      Current invasive
manage prohibited and                      species
restricted invasive species                management
across the region,          Environment,   activities,
resulting in environmental Legal &         Biosecurity Team
                                                               Likely      High           High
degradation, biodiversity Compliance,      expertise,
loss, increased             Reputation     community
management costs and                       education, previous
non-compliance with the                    surveillance
Biosecurity Act 2014.                      programs.




Human Rights
Human Rights Compatibility Statement
In developing this Report, the subject matter has been considered in accordance with the
requirements of the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019. It is considered that the subject matter
does not conflict with any human rights and supports a human rights approach to decision making
by Council. Council representatives will endeavour to act and make decisions under this report in a
manner that is compatible with human rights. This report should be read in conjunction with
Council’s Human Rights Policy.



Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
External consultations will include:
   •   Consultation with Biosecurity Queensland regarding the proposed program design and
       survey methodology in accordance with s239(2) of the Act.
   •   Publication of the adopted program on Council's website.

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                           8 SEPTEMBER 2026


     •     Community awareness through Council communication channels prior to commencement of
           surveys.
     •     Direct engagement with landholders at the time of inspection wherever practicable.
Section 240 of the Act requires notice of the approved program to be published at least 14 days
before commencement, including publication on Council's website and notification of relevant
government land managers.
Internal Consultation
Departments consulted:
     Office of the CEO, Mayor &            Community Services               Corporate Services
             Councillors
         Mayor & Councillors             Director                        Director
         Chief Executive Officer         Community Connection            Financial Services
         Executive Officers              Sport & Active Lifestyles       Revenue Services
         Community Engagement            Arts & Culture                  ICT
         Governance                      Customer Experience             Procurement

                                                                         People & Culture
         Strategy & Environment          Development & Regulation         Infrastructure Services
 x       Director                        Director                        Director
         Strategy & Sustainability       Development Assessment          Civil and Asset operations
         Economic Development        &                                   Infrastructure Planning, Design
                                         Local Laws
         Destination Management                                          and Delivery
 x       Environmental Services          Environmental Health            Waste
         Innovation & Digital Hub        Building & Plumbing             Building & Facilities
         Commercial Property             Property / Permits              Disaster Management

                                                                         Fleet