Townsville City Biosecurity Plan 2020-2024
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Townsville City Biosecurity Plan 2020 – 2024 September 2020 Executive Summary The Townsville City Biosecurity Plan provides a foundation for a coordinated approach to the management of pest plants and animals within the Townsville Local Government Area (LGA). The plan focuses on supporting existing programs and advances new and cost effective solutions to enhance the values of the landscape, amenities and economy by minimising the impacts of pest species within the LGA. The goals of this Biosecurity Plan are to: 1. Engage all stakeholders within the Townsville LGA on priority biosecurity issues. 2. Provide a collaborative approach in the implementation of ongoing, coordinated and effective management of all pests. 3. Set achievable objectives to manage pest plants and animals in the LGA. 4. Prioritise management of pest plants and animals known and potentially present in the LGA. 5. Identify the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders and provide a mechanism to inform, support and integrate pest management activities. 6. Outline processes to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan. The development of the above goals were guided by the principles of effective pest plant and animal management as identified in the Queensland Invasive Plants and Animals Strategy 2019 – 2024 prepared by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The implementation of this plan will also ensure that the Townsville City Council meets their obligations under the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014. Biosecurity Plan 2020 – 2024 | 1 Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................................................................ii 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Townsville Local Government Area.................................................................................................................................. 3 1.2 The Queensland Biosecurity Framework. ......................................................................................................................6 1.3 Invasive Species Terminology ...........................................................................................................................................6 1.4 What is the General Biosecurity Obligation? ................................................................................................................ 7 1.5 What Biosecurity Risks are you Expected to Know About? ....................................................................................... 7 1.6 What are Reasonable and Practicable Steps? ..............................................................................................................8 1.7 What Does This Mean For You?.........................................................................................................................................8 2 Plan Development and Implementation ................................................................................................................................ 10 2.1 Plan Development .............................................................................................................................................................. 10 2.2 Prioritisation of Risks ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.3 Management Requirements for Listed Biosecurity Matters ................................................................................... 15 2.4 Stakeholders ....................................................................................................................................................................... 16 3 Management Actions ................................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.1 Vision ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.2 Objectives ............................................................................................................................................................................. 18 3.3 Invasive Species Management .......................................................................................................................................20 3.4 Local Alert Species ..............................................................................................................................................................21 3.5 Plan Implementation and Review ................................................................................................................................. 22 3.6 Plan Duration ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22 4 Monitoring and Reporting.......................................................................................................................................................... 23 References .................................................................................................................................................................................................24 Appendix 1 Relevant Legislation and Planning Instruments .......................................................................................25 Appendix 2 Critical Priority Pest Management Plans .....................................................................................................29 Appendix 3 Management Plans for Other Species .......................................................................................................... 47 2 |Biosecurity Plan 2020 – 2024 1 Introduction 1.1 Townsville Local Government Area The Townsville Local Government Area (LGA) covers an Some features of the Townsville LGA that affect the area of approximately 3,736 km2 within the Dry Tropics introduction and spread of pest plants and animals Region of North Queensland and is the largest urban include the following: centre north of Brisbane, with a major industrial and • The presence of different bioregion’s that support transport hub and a population of 180,346 (ABS 2019). a wide variety of ecosystems, providing suitable Important land uses within the Townsville LGA include: conditions for a diverse range of pest plants and • urban properties (residential, commercial and animals. industrial); • As Townsville is a major industrial and transport • larger peri-urban properties surrounding urban hub, weed propagules may be introduced from areas; overseas and other parts of Queensland and • industries (including refineries, cattle processing, spread along major transport corridors. Carriers the port and other transport facilities); include boats, vehicles, machinery, plant and • hrazing (primarily beef cattle); animal material, soil, and other contaminated • intensive agriculture (including sugar cane, matter in cargoes. horticulture and intensive animal production); • Townsville contains large areas of conservation • conservation (national parks, world heritage, areas, including national parks. These properties conservation parks, state forests); and often have limited access and may require a • defence infrastructure (training areas, barracks). specialised approach to managing biosecurity risks. The introduction and dispersal of pests in the • The large peri-urban fringe around urban areas region are influenced by a variety of natural and form a significant area of disturbed landscape that human processes. The introduction of new pests is provides ideal habitat for numerous pest plants predominantly influenced by human factors, with and animals. The large number of landholders can Townsville being a transport and industry hub this risk complicate coordinated management across the is particularly valid for this region. Natural dispersal peri-urban landscape. process such as wind, water and movement via birds • Many weeds in the region are horticultural are impossible to restrict. However, dispersal caused escapees from urban and peri-urban gardens. The by human activities can be managed through the large urban and peri-urban population increases implementation of coordinated strategies at local, the risk of horticultural escapees. regional, state, national and international levels. • Domestic animal escapees and roaming pets can Pest plants and animals can impact on: have the same negative impacts as pest animals, and can also contribute to the growth of pest • the economy (e.g. reduce productivity and animal populations. profitability of grazing, agriculture, transport and • Primary production in the Townsville LGA is exports); principally grazing, but also includes a range • human/animal health (e.g. toxicity, allergens, of agricultural crops such as mango, lychee, increased risk of fire, spread of disease, public pineapple, sugar cane, various herbs and safety risk); and vegetables. The LGAs to the north, south and west • environmental values (e.g. compete with of Townsville also support large areas of intensive native species, predation of native species, agriculture,