Noosa Biosecurity Plan 2026-2031

Brian Stockwell343:55

Yes. No, it is too late. It's too late. Okay, thank you. I put the motion. Those in favour? Councillor Wilson, Wegener and Stockwell. Those is Councillor Lorentson, Finzel and Phillips. And I use my casting vote to for. The motion is passed. We now move on to the biosecurity plan 2026/2031. Managing environment services. This is which great. Our managing environment services. Ben has been voting for. Thank you. Here Ben, a quick overview, thank you.

Thanks very much Chair, afternoon Councillor, CEO. Firstly I'll offer an apology for Director Rawlings who's engaged with the minister for environment in a few of my portfolios this afternoon. The draft Noosa biosecuring plan 26 to 31 has been prepared to guide the coordinated management of invasive plants and animals across Noosa Shire over the next five years. The plan responds to council's obligations under the biosecurity act 2014 and supports the delivery of council's Corporate Plan and Environment Strategy by biosecurity risks to biodiversity, agricultural productivity, community amenity and public safety. The plan has been developed to adopt a risk-based, evidence-informed approach to prioritising invasive species management across all land tenures. It includes actions focused on prevention, early detection and rapid response containment of established species and community capacity building to support shared responsibilities for biosecurity outcomes. Preparation of the draft has been undertaken with targeted stakeholders including Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries which is biosecurity QPWS Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Sunshine Coast Council, Gympie Regional Council, SEQ boyer, SEQ Catchments, Queensland Rail and Noosa District Landcare group. The biosecurity plan applies the biosecurity act at local levels. And covers roles and responsibilities of Council and other agencies and private landholders, processes for reporting of invasive species and management processes, Shire-wide risk assessments to establishing priorities for managing invasive species, reasonable and practical measures prevention, eradication, containment and asset-based protection depending on the extent of infestation and management feasibility, methods and timing for management of invasive species, management tools and support. Regulation and compliance and information capture. The commonwealth scientific and industrial research organisation, which is Australia's peak research organisation, identifies pest plants and animals as the key threat to Australia's biodiversity. Our diverse and comparative well conserved environmental values in Noosa are under particular threat due to our accommodating subtropical climate. Accordingly, the draft Noosa biosecurity plan is a critical tool for us to be able to manage our biodiversity values into the future. And I say the recommendation that we've put forward is this is a draft that we are seeking Council approval to undertake broad scale community consultation, which should be through GoVocal. We've engaged with relevant stakeholders up to this point. We've been well engaged with land holders through delivery of the current biosecurity plan and so we're seeking the opportunity for all residents of Noosa to be able to have a say.

Brian Stockwell351:00

If you could just hold. Is there anything in the biosecurity plan that talks about control measures in use of glyphosate? I don't know that off the top of my head. I believe it's a matter that's more specific than what the biosecurity plan covers. Obviously, it's one control option for weeds, and I don't believe it's a relevant question to the item in front of us.

Brian Stockwell357:06

My pleasure. We'll make amendments for Council. And I will talk to it. You mentioned CSIRO identifying biosecurity risk as the most significant one to biodiversity in Australia. We've just dealt with the concept of destination management. There's nothing the Council does more important than actually maintaining our natural areas. But also part of DMP is getting the local food system and the biosecurity plan is one of those ones that spreads across both the environmental and the economic production of our landscape. The risks will continue to grow. As our native vegetation, which is adapted to past climates, has to compete with far more weedy rudder or species, be they animals or plants, I do acknowledge the concern amongst the community and the ongoing debate. Around use of herbicides to control weed invasion, and there is always that balancing act to at what at the what outcomes the are. Would be without herbicides. I know that Noosa district and landcare were consulted. What most people don't know is that group was started to address the biosecurity problem when a whole lot of people started to move into the rural landscape and we had a significant noxious weed called grantil bush that was being aerated. By helicopter with a thing that is a mix of 245T and 24D anmine, which most people will know as agent orange. So that was the genesis of when we had a public meeting in Pomona in '89 or so, to start addressing how we could address the management of our landscape in a less toxic and more environmentally friendly way. So it is a big issue, and it is one that really is, we're if going to protect the Noosa brand, we have to protect the naturalness of our bushland and the productivity of our farmland, so it's an important one that we do consult on and make sure that what we've drafted is in line with community expectations. Councillor Lorentson.

Karen Finzel361:10

I think it's all been said looking forward to the feedback from the community so that we get their say in it but I think it's really important that we move forward the biosecurity plan especially to like future generations by then we get this knowledge and then we like keep building on that I think that's really important to inform future generations while leaving a really good knowledge base of like what makes it tick it in terms in of and we need to protect. So thank you

Amelia Lorentson359:25

I've been attending, I'm not going through ALGA this year, but I've been attending most of the conferences I think over the last six years, both at local and national level, and fire ants. That's just a real. You dud he don't hear much of it here in Queensland, but when you go to these conferences, you actually understand the enormity of the problem. I think biosecurity is one of the most important responsibilities this Council actually carries. And it doesn't get that much attention. Like I said, when I go to the forums, that's when it's really amplified. And as Councillor Stockwell mentioned, you know, when I do Bushcare, volunteering with groups, and when you're there pulling weeds out, invasive weeds, and you're just going, man, this is never going to stop. You actually understand you've got to manage it. Once invasive species take hold, cats cause creepers or fire ants. Know, enter a park, that's it. So we've got to do everything to prevent that from actually happening. So I'm really, you know, this plan exists to prevent that, I and really I support this plan coming to community engagement. And again, pass on your thanks to your team, a really critical, important role that you guys play in ensuring that we're protected. Thanks. You.