Following community consultation Gladstone Regional Council has developed a Biosecurity Plan to strengthen and protect the Gladstone Region’s environment and ecosystems from biosecurity risks. In accordance with the Biosecurity Act 2014, the new strategy replaces the old Biosecurity Plan which expired in December 2020.

The new Biosecurity plan sets out key objectives and priority actions for our unique region. Key issues include invasive pest plants including giant rats tail grass, parthenium, feral Leucaena, landholders (absent and present) awareness and capability and pest animals including wild dogs, feral pigs, rabbits, foxes, Indian myna birds.

The plan has been informed by community engagement and input, research, alignment with the Biosecurity Act 2014, and consideration of emerging priorities. It also forms the foundation of Council actions which includes control of land, community education and awareness, and compliance and enforcement of the act within the region.

Thank you, to those who participated, for having your say on the Biosecurity Plan 2021-2025.

Council values your feedback and has used it to shape the new plan.

Key community feedback incorporated into the plan includes:

• The Gladstone Region community highlighted African Tulip trees and Tilapia fish as ongoing concerns.These have remained as containment species to ensure stakeholders are actively working on control and reduction.
• Among the significant environmental areas, the community highlighted waterways, national parks and conservation areas. These areas will help Council to focus and continue compliance and education.
• The community identified national parks, large and absentee landholders as priorities for compliance. This plan continues to support the education and awareness as a big focus and will retain the compliance and enforcement function too.

• Most respondents associate General Biosecurity Obligation with controlling and preventing the spread of invasive species.
• Most respondents do not use the washdown facilities, because 1. They do not go through properties and/or infected areas; 2. Proximity to washdown facilities 3. They use their own or have access to another washdown facility.
• The priority pests identified included Giant Rats Tail Grass, Parthenium, Rubber vine, Leucaena, feral animals and Indian Myna birds.
• Among the significant environmental areas highlighted were: waterways, national parks and conservation areas.
• Most respondents believe the best way to educate, inform and generate awareness is through field days, followed by Facebook posts, and that the education and awareness should focus on ‘control of weeds’.