2015-01-12 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               12 January 2015


The stakeholder group met on two occasions to review the current Sunshine Coast Pest
Management Plan and develop a new Noosa Pest Management Plan. The stakeholder group
recommended the adoption of most of the information in the Sunshine Coast Pest Management
Plan that was pertinent to Noosa, but significant changes to the Action Plan were identified to
more appropriately reflect pest management in Noosa Shire. The group recommended a number
of key actions to be included in the Action Plan, such as:

•    An annual review of the effectiveness of the Plan, as a requirement of the Land Protection
     (Stock Route and Rural Lands) Act 2002, by Council, and on advice from the stakeholder
     group;
•    In conjunction with existing communication and education programs, develop a Pest
     Management Communication and Education Plan to inform the Noosa community,
     stakeholders, landholders and interest groups;
•    Ongoing pest management compliance programs conducted by Council through annual
     landholder pest surveys;
•    The identification of Noosa’s ‘Top 10’ Class 1 & 2 pest plant species, ‘Top 10’ Class 3 and
     environmental weeds, and Top 7 pest animal species, to provide a focus for pest
     management activities;
•    The development of specific pest animal species control plans for feral dogs and cats,
     foxes, deer, pigs and common minors;
•    The identification of Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) for priority pest
     management.

An initial Draft Noosa Local Government Area Pest Management Plan 2015-2019 was distributed
to the Stakeholder Group, including Biosecurity Queensland. Feedback from key stakeholders
was considered and has been incorporated in the current draft (refer Attachment 1).

This report seeks Council endorsement to undertake a 28 day public consultation process for the
Noosa Local Government Area Pest Management Plan 2015-2019, as a requirement of the Land
Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. Submissions gained from public
consultation will be presented to Council and Biosecurity Queensland and considered in the plan,
prior to final adoption of the Noosa Local Government Area Pest Management Plan by Council.

Previous Council Consideration

Ordinary Meeting 26 June 2014:

That Council note the report by the Environment Officer to the Infrastructure & Services
Committee Meeting dated 17 June 2014 and resolve to develop a Noosa Local Government Area
Pest Management Plan 2014-2018 for Council consideration as outlined in Option 2 of the report.

Finance & Risk

Pest management is currently funded through the Waste and Environmental Health budget. It is
not anticipated that the Noosa Pest Management Plan will impact on the current budget. There
are over 300 species of pest in Noosa Shire. The Plan identities priority pest species for
management, and therefore provides a more targeted and effective delivery of pest management
services, rather than attempting to control all species.

Consultation

External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder

Noosa Local Government Area Pest Management Plan Stakeholder Group


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