Biosecurity Surveillance Program 2027-2031 · Report

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.