2015-01-12 General Committee Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 7 Pest Management Plan 2015-2019

proliferate. While not yet as prevalent in Noosa as they are elsewhere in Australia, Common
mynas are known for their aggressive competition for nesting hollows and can displace
hollow dependent native fauna.

Case Study

Community partnerships in delivering a wild dog control program
Wild dogs are a significant problem across rural, rural residential and urban areas of Noosa.
They are responsible for killing and maiming stock and pets, preying on native wildlife,
damaging equipment, spreading disease and threatening people. Under the Land
Protection Act 2002, landholders have an obligation to control declared pests on their land.
Outside urban brigade areas, a landholder or authorised person may destroy a wild dog
that is a threat to stock. Noosa rural and urban brigade area maps can be accessed on
Council’s website www.noosa.qld.gov.au through the public interactive map system.

Over time Noosa has grown and urban development encroached on rural areas, traditional
methods of baiting have become increasingly difficult to implement. More than ever,
effective baiting programs can only be run with the cooperation and collaboration of the
community. The baiting program that is now operating began in 2002 as a trial involving a
single group of 6 land owners. The program has now grown to include 40 landholders
across the Noosa Shire.

Baiting programs are targeted towards areas where there is most to gain in terms of
environmental and economic outcomes. For example baiting in known koala habitat areas
helps safeguard local koala populations. At the same time foxes and feral cats which also
impact on fauna may be identified for baiting as well. A significant increase in wild dog
activity can impact on stock, and may be a target for a baiting program. The wild dog baiting
program is delivered through local area coordination groups consisting of property owners
and individuals working together to reduce the impacts of wild dogs in their areas. These
groups are also supported by government land owners who manage land parcels within
these areas.

Strict rules govern the administration and operation of the baiting programs and all aspects
are well documented. All residents within two kilometres of any bait station must be advised
in writing. Placement of baits must comply with stringent criteria: no baits may be laid within
five kilometres of a town (unless otherwise authorised to do so), within 500 meters of a
dwelling that is not part of the program, within 20 metres of a water body or within 50
metres of the centre-line of a declared road.

On baiting day, Council prepares the baits with 1080 and distributes the baits to landholder
groups. Boneless meat is used for baits and when they are set they must be buried and
tied. Participants must record the fate of all baits they lay and, where possible, indicate
what animal took the bait. Any bait not taken after seven days is retrieved and destroyed.

Cameras and sand traps are used to monitor the effectiveness of baiting programs. For
example in 2013/2014, one baiting program revealed that 23 baits were taken by foxes and
18 by wild dogs. Baits were also taken by 2 feral pigs and 2 goannas, but the baits did not
have sufficient strength to affect these species.

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