2020-06-09 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                        9 JUNE 2020


6                        BIOSECURITY SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM 2020-2024
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Pests and Contracts Officer, Ken English
                                    Environment & Sustainable Development Department

Index                               ECM/Subject/Pest Management

Attachments                         Nil

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
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 Boreen Point.

REPORT
Background
Council’s legal obligations under the Biosecurity Act 2014 are to ensure that any biosecurity
risks in relation to invasive plants and animals on private land, that are either prohibited or
restricted, are managed accordingly. Due to the economic, environmental and social impacts of
invasive plants and animals, the Act provides considerable powers to authorised persons to
ensure compliance by entering properties to undertake inspections. These inspections can be
undertaken through a Surveillance Program of a defined part of the region. Surveys must be
approved by Council and advertised.
Council has been undertaking this program for a number of years with its previous approved
Biosecurity Surveillance Program running from 2016–2020 and prior to this a Pest Survey
Program was approved by Council under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route
Management) Act 2002.
Approved Biosecurity Surveillance Program
A Council Resolution is required to approve the Biosecurity Surveillance Program from 1 July
2020 to 31 December 2024.
The surveillance program will provide relevant officers the necessary authority to enter
properties in accordance with the Biosecurity Act 2014, 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

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