Don’t be alarmed if Sunshine Coast Council officers stop by soon to investigate pests lurking around your property.
Council officers will be conducting the annual Pest Survey Program in accordance with Section 241 of the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 throughout the region.
Community Programs Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said the purpose of the program was to monitor the distribution and spread of declared pest plants and animals and raise community awareness about them.
“Council’s Pest and Vector Control Officers will be carrying out the survey in rural and peri-urban properties throughout the Sunshine Coast,” Cr McKay said.
“We will be promoting to landowners best practice in the treatment of declared pest plants while also monitoring compliance with the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act2002.
“Failure to efficiently deliver the pest survey program will put at risk the control of declared pest plants and animals throughout the region, causing environmental damage, loss of biodiversity, threat to stock and domestic animals, loss of agricultural productivity and loss of community amenity.”
The three month program will take place from 1 April 2014 to 30 June 2014 in the localities of Coolum Beach, Maroochy River, Ninderry, Peregian Beach within the Sunshine Coast Council boundary, Yandina Creek and Glasshouse Mountains.
Cr McKay said the program continued to improve year-on-year in terms of efficiency, feedback from community members and pest clearing compliance rates.
“Improvements to our mobile office technology has enabled our officers to attend more properties much faster,” she said.
“It allows council to generate a notice within 15 minutes of the inspection which includes a photo of an identified pest and work with them to help rectify it.
“And of those properties where a concern was identified last year, the vast majority effectively cleared the declared pests without the need for council officers or contractors to undertake any further action.”
Cr McKay said a variety of different communication vehicles would be available to help inform and assist property owners.
“A number of resources including booklets, fact sheets and public notices will be provided to rural and peri-urban landholders via mail outs, public notices and surveys. Information is also available online at council’s website,” she said.
“Any property owner who still has concerns, please give council a call and we will arrange for an officer to come out and assist.”
Council is also auditing and treating road reserves for declared pest plants to meet its responsibilities under the legislation. Council has partnered with the state government to include state controlled roads in this process as well.
For further information, contact council’s Customer Contact Centre on (07) 5475 7272 or email mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
