A new plan to provide a coordinated approach to the management of pest plants and animals within Townsville has been endorsed at this week's ordinary Council meeting.
The Townsville City Biosecurity Plan 2025-2030 builds on the Council's approach to biosecurity in recent years, while enabling Council to meet its obligations under the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014.
Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said the new plan applied a reasonable and practicable approach to supporting existing programs while advancing new and cost-effective solutions to enable Council to minimise impacts of invasive plants and animal species within the Local Government Area (LGA).
"Townsville is a beautiful part of the world, but like everyone, we have our own challenges when it comes to biosecurity and the control of plants and animals that are deemed pests," Cr Greaney said.
"This new plan gives Council as an organisation the ability to strategically coordinate our approach to how we deal with, and minimise the impacts on the environment, economy, human health and social amenity.
"Our LGA covers around 3736km2 and is home to more than 200 invasive animal and plant species, so this plan reaffirms Council's commitment to biosecurity in the region."
Councillor Greaney said the organisation worked hand in hand with multiple stakeholders when it came to managing invasive species in the region.
"Local governments are required to develop, adopt and implement biosecurity plans and manage invasive species within their LGA, however there are many stakeholders that need to also do their part," Cr Greaney said.
"While Council is a key stakeholder in the management of invasive plants and animal species throughout the region, the plan also outlines what other levels of government, industry, regional organisations, community groups and private landholders are also responsible for.
"For example, for private landholders, we expect people to take reasonable and practical steps to prevent or minimise the risk of introducing or spreading invasive biosecurity matter on and off their land."
Division 10 Councillor Brady Ellis said with much of his division spanning the rural southern suburbs of Townsville, he looked forward to seeing how the new Biosecurity Plan would help work towards the management of pests like Yellow Crazy Ants and Siam Weed.
"We have such a beautiful region full of diversity, so it's great to see Council working hard to protect the amenity and biodiversity of this great city," Cr Ellis said.
"People don't realise Alligator Creek National Park in my division is home to eight critically endangered species, along with 14 vulnerable species, unfortunately some of these invasive species like Gamba Grass, Yellow Crazy Ants and Siam Weed are a serious threat, so it's critical everyone works together to manage pests in our region."
