Ipswich City Council

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Pests

Pest plants and animals affect the lives of all Queenslanders. They degrade our natural resources, damage precious remnant vegetation, compromise biodiversity, and interfere with human health and recreation. They cause financial losses to eco-tourism and cost Queenslanders over $600M annually in lost production and in control costs.

The Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 and Regulation 2003, is in force throughout Queensland.

The Act includes an explanation of its purpose and details pest management and stock route management principles. The Act provides for a maximum penalty of $60,000 and introduces new offences.

Under the Act, local governments are required to develop a pest management plan for their local council area. These plans are developed in consultation with the community and government agencies. Pest Management Plans include priorities, outcomes and performance measures and targets.

The Regulation lists three classes of declared pests, Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3.

Class 3 plants are only declared if they are on an environmentally significant areas or on land adjacent to them.

For further information on declared pests, please refer to the following Natural Resources & Water web site, www.nrw.qld.gov.au.

Pest Management Plan

The Ipswich City Council local government area pest management plan has been developed for the benefit of the entire community. The expertise of many local stakeholders (including representatives of local and state government agencies, industry groups, environmental and other community groups, and private landholders) has been drawn on, in planning for the cooperative management of pests on all land within the City boundaries.

The key objectives of the plan are:

to improve the use of the resources and expertise available for managing pests within the City
to reduce the local impacts of pests
to provide a coordinated approach to pest management within the local government area and within the WESROC region through linkages with natural resource management programs, State and National Pest Plant and Animal Strategies, sustainable land use, and Council Corporate and Operational Plans
to provide a documented basis for making resource allocations
to provide clear direction and responsibility for pest management in the Ipswich City Council for all stakeholders

The plan will be valid for a maximum of four years, with a review of the plan to occur prior to each financial year and whenever amendments are made to Queensland's pest management strategies.

For more information regarding Council's pest management plan, please contact Council on
(07) 3810 6666 or e-mail council@ipswich.qld.gov.au.