2014-06-17 Infrastructure and Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 17 JUNE 2014


Approved Pest Survey Program

A Council Resolution is required to approve the Pest Survey Programs for the period 1 July 2014
to 30 June 2015 to ensure that relevant officers act in accordance with legislation. This will
facilitate a coordinated approach to the management of declared pest plants across the region,
with a regional survey schedule commencing on 1 July 2014.

An approved Pest Survey Program enables Council’s authorised officers to enter private property
to facilitate the control of declared pests and monitor compliance under the Act. Section 241 (1)
of the Act provides for the development of an approved Pest Survey Program as follows:

     The chief executive of a pest operational board, or a local government by resolution, may
     approve a program (a ‘pest survey program’) under which authorised persons appointed by
     the chief executive, pest operational board or the chief executive officer of the local
     government may enter places to monitor compliance with the Act.

Section 241(4)(f) of the Act states a Pest Survey Program must be no longer than three (3)
months’ duration. The three monthly programs are proposed to occur on the following dates:

1.   Survey Program 1 - 01/07/14 to 30/09/14 for the localities of Cooroy, Cooroy Mountain,
     Tinbeerwah, Cooroibah and that part of Doonan that is within the Noosa Council boundary;

2.   Survey Program 2 - 01/10/14 to 31/12/14 for the localities of Black Mountain, Federal, and
     those parts of Ridgewood and Eerwah Vale that are within the Noosa Council boundary;

3.   Survey Program 3 - 01/01/15 to 31/03/15 for the localities of Kin Kin, Pinbarren, Cooran
     and that part of Como that is within the Noosa Council boundary; and

4.   Survey Program 4 - 01/04/15 to 30/06/15 for the localities of Pomona, Lake MacDonald,
     Ringtail Creek, Cootharaba and Boreen Point.

Program Methodology and Delivery

A copy of the Pest Survey Program will be available at Council’s Customer Service Centre and
each program will be advertised in the Noosa News prior to its commencement.

Each survey will be implemented by Council’s Pest and Vector Officers in conjunction with
declared pest control activities on Council land. This ensures and efficient delivery for maximum
benefit to both community and Council’s assets.

Council’s Pest and Vector Officers will seek voluntary compliance and collaborate with
landholders wherever possible to facilitate the control of declared pests.

Where pests are located on a property and a pest control notice is required to be served, an
attached fact sheet will be sent to the owner outlining the requirements of the legislation and
advising of the option to develop a pest management plan for the property. A property owner/
occupier electing to develop such a plan will be provided with assistance to develop a suitable
plan.

If the owner fails to comply with the requirements of the notice, the Act provides for the property
to be entered by a Council contractor to undertake the required work. Costs can be recovered via
Council rates if necessary under the authority of Section 142 of the Local Government Act 2009.




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