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

Pests of our coastal ecosystems

Noosa is celebrated for its stunning beaches and, as a result, coastal ecosystems are under
immense pressure from residential and tourist development. Native species have been
overlooked by landscapers in favour of low maintenance ‘tropical’ gardens filled with exotic
palms. The encroachment of development into coastal areas has meant that garden
escapees such as asparagus fern (Asparagus spp.), glory lily (Gloriosa superba), Singapore
daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata), cocos palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and coastal morning
glory (Ipomoea cairica) have become prevalent in many coastal environments.

European foxes (Vulpes vulpes) prey upon small native animals and are a domestic
nuisance as they scavenge in bins and backyard compost heaps and cause domestic dogs
to bark. Foxes are a particular problem in coastal areas because they dig up turtle nests to
eat the eggs and they are linked to the decline of endangered and vulnerable marine turtle
populations throughout Australia.




                           Singapore daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata)

Pests of our rural areas

Many pest species that are of particular concern in rural areas cause illness and injury to
livestock and degrade pasture in addition to their impacts on natural ecosystems. Groundsel
bush (Baccharis halimifolia) and giant rat’s tail grass (Sporobolus spp.) cause loss of
production and degradation of pasture by out-competing desirable pasture species. As well
as impacting on productivity annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) can aggravate asthma
and hay fever and fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) is poisonous to livestock.

Wild dogs are a major concern to many landholders. Attacks by wild dogs on livestock,
wildlife and pets are not uncommon and these can be very traumatic for witnesses. There is
also growing concern that people, particularly children, are at risk of attack. Wild dogs are
known to carry zoonotic diseases such as hydatid disease and the risk of these diseases
being transmitted to domestic animals and humans is also of concern in rural and rural
residential areas. As development has encroached on rural areas more situations arise
where the dingo/wild dog population comes into contact and, therefore, conflict with people.
Wild dogs are a problem throughout rural, rural residential and urban areas of Noosa.



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