2015-04-28 Attachment 2 to item 5 Planning and Organisation Committee Agenda - Pest Management Plan 2015-2019

Pests of our urban areas                               other alternatives are available that are equal to, or
                                                       more, effective.
The urban-bushland interface is an area of
                                                       Over time Noosa has grown and urban
intense pressure from environmental weeds
                                                       development encroached on rural areas, traditional
and residential gardens are the source of many
                                                       methods of baiting have become increasingly
of them. People dumping garden waste over
                                                       difficult to implement. More than ever, effective
the back fence or in environmental reserves
                                                       baiting programs can only be run with the
introduce substantial weed loads to bushland
                                                       cooperation and collaboration of the community.
reserves. Other garden plants such as mock
                                                       The baiting program that is now operating began
orange (Murraya paniculata), duranta (Duranta
                                                       in 2002 as a trial involving a single group of 6 land
spp.), Mickey Mouse bush (Ochna serrulata)
                                                       owners. The program has now grown to include 40
and Queensland umbrella tree (Schefflera
                                                       landholders across the Noosa Shire.
actinophylla) that are popular with gardeners for
the brightly coloured fruits they produce are also     Baiting programs are targeted towards
popular with birds who eat the fruit and transport     areas where there is most to gain in terms of
the seeds into bushland areas.                         environmental and economic outcomes. For
                                                       example baiting in known koala habitat areas
Our pets can also cause major impacts in urban         helps safeguard local koala populations. At the
bushland parks. Domestic cats allowed to roam          same time foxes and feral cats which also impact
are known to hunt and kill native fauna such as        on fauna may be identified for baiting as well.
birds, lizards and frogs, while domestic dogs that     A significant increase in wild dog activity can
are not properly restrained at night are recognised    impact on stock, and may be a target for a baiting
as a key threat to koala populations. The highly       program. The wild dog baiting program is delivered
modified urban environment has also provided           through local area coordination groups consisting
suitable habitat for certain introduced species,       of property owners and individuals working
such as the Common myna bird (Acridotheres             together to reduce the impacts of wild dogs in
tristis), to proliferate. While not yet as prevalent   their areas. These groups are also supported by
in Noosa as they are elsewhere in Australia,           government land owners who manage land parcels
Common mynas are known for their aggressive            within these areas.
competition for nesting hollows and can displace
hollow dependent native fauna.                         Strict rules govern the administration and operation
                                                       of the baiting programs and all aspects are well
Case Study                                             documented. All residents within two kilometres
                                                       of any bait station must be advised in writing.
Community partnerships in delivering a                 Placement of baits must comply with stringent
                                                       criteria: no baits may be laid within five kilometres
wild dog control program
                                                       of a town (unless otherwise authorised to do so),
Wild dogs are a significant problem across rural,      within 500 meters of a dwelling that is not part of
rural residential and urban areas of Noosa. They       the program, within 20 metres of a water body or
are responsible for killing and maiming stock          within 50 metres of the centre-line of a declared
and pets, preying on native wildlife, damaging         road.
equipment, spreading disease and threatening           On baiting day, Council prepares the baits with
people. Under the Land Protection Act 2002,            1080 and distributes the baits to landholder
landholders have an obligation to control declared     groups. Boneless meat is used for baits and
pests on their land. Outside urban brigade areas,      when they are set they must be buried and tied.
a landholder or authorised person may destroy a        Participants must record the fate of all baits they
wild dog that is a threat to stock. Noosa rural and    lay and, where possible, indicate what animal took
urban brigade area maps can be accessed on             the bait. Any bait not taken after seven days is
Council’s website www.noosa.qld.gov.au through         retrieved and destroyed.
the public interactive map system.
                                                       Cameras and sand traps are used to monitor the
There are a number of methods of wild dog              effectiveness of baiting programs. For example
control. Examples include baiting with 1080 poison,    in 2013/2014, one baiting program revealed
trapping, fencing and guardian animals. 1080 is        that 23 baits were taken by foxes and 18 by wild
considered the most practical measure for keeping      dogs. Baits were also taken by 2 feral pigs and
wild dog populations under control. It is likely to    2 goannas, but the baits did not have sufficient
continue as the preferred method of control until      strength to affect these species.
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