2015-11-10 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                       10 NOVEMBER 2015


Previous Council Consideration
Council adopted a Pest Management Plan 2015 at its Ordinary Meeting on 7 May 2015.
Finance & Risk
A temporary staff member has already been engaged to assist with pest management activities,
which will consume the majority of savings arising from the absence of the principal pest control
officer. The proposal to engage wild dog control contractors is a temporary increase in service
level compared to current levels, primarily due to the temporary loss of the highly skilled
employee undertaking this role, and needed to address the resultant wild dog increase.
Funds will be required to be sourced in the next budget review should Council elect to proceed
with the proposal. Proposed costs for a trapping program to be conducted over 3 months (12
weeks) are approximately $39,000 (i.e. a worst case scenario of $650 per day for a single
contractor working 5 days per week for 12 weeks).
The budget review process will be used to find funding for the program to the extent practicable
(i.e. savings within the branch and across the department if required). The engagement of the
proposed contractors who will provide some of their own equipment may result in savings in the
materials and services budget for pest management. Accurately estimating any savings at this
time is difficult, however this will provide a potential funding source for some of the additional
funds required.
Potential risks are as follows:
     Contractor could accidentally catch urban straying dogs.
     Dogs becoming trap shy due to unskilled operators making the job of future control more
       difficult.

Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Gympie Regional Council was contacted by staff to determine how they were progressing with
their wild dog program.
Staff have also been dealing with the Sunshine Coast Council with a view to trialling sniffer dogs
to detect the location of fox dens which can then be fumigated to destroy foxes and their pups.
Internal Consultation
Pest management staff assisted in the preparation of this report.
Director Corporate Services

Departments/Sections Consulted:

     Chief Executive Officer                x   Community Services                 X   Corporate Services
     Executive Officer to the Mayor & CEO       Community Facilities               x   Financial Services
     Executive Support                          Community Development                  ICT
                                                Libraries & Galleries                  Procurement & Fleet
                                                Local Laws                             Property & Facilities
                                            x   Waste & Environmental Health           Revenue Services

     Executive Office                           Planning & Infrastructure
     Community Engagement                       Building & Plumbing Services
     Customer Service                           Civil Operations
     Economic Development                       Infrastructure Planning & Design
     Governance                                 Planning & Environment
     Human Resources                            Strategic Land Use Planning
     Sustainability




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