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Last Updated: Tuesday, 19 August 2025 15:10

Published: Tuesday, 19 August 2025 15:10

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) will start property inspections from September as part of the 2025-2026 Biosecurity Surveillance Program.

The new program, which is scheduled to run from September 1, 2025 to August 30, 2026, was endorsed at today’s (August 19, 2025) Ordinary Meeting of Council.

TRC Parks and Recreation Services portfolio spokesperson Cr Tim McMahon said while the entire Toowoomba Regional Council area was included in the surveillance program, Council had identified priority surveillance areas.

Cr McMahon said localities including Elphinstone, Brookstead and Back Plains in the southern part of the Region along with northern areas near Quinalow, Glenaven and Boodua (see map below) were identified as priority surveillance areas for purposes of confirming the presence and extent of invasive biosecurity matter.

“Council’s property inspection efforts will be concentrated in these areas based on the records we hold regarding the distribution of prohibited and restricted plants (also based on the observable presence of invasive biosecurity matter), a risk assessment in relation to these species, our resourcing capacity or as a result of a complaint raised with Council,” Cr McMahon said.

“The 12-month program covers Council’s legislative requirements to monitor compliance with the Biosecurity Act 2014 (the Act) that ensures the management of prohibited and restricted biosecurity matter, or more broadly, invasive plants and animals.

“A majority of properties, 50% or greater, within the identified priority surveillance localities listed above will be inspected to confirm the presence and extent of invasive biosecurity matter, especially Chilean needle grass, prickly pears, harrisia cactus, African boxthorn, honey locust, mother of millions, giant rat’s tail grass, giant Parramatta grass and groundsel bush, among other species.

“In addition, all properties that are inspected for this purpose will be monitored for compliance.

“Council will make every effort to contact a property owner or occupier to gain their permission to enter the site if it’s necessary to inspect the property. Based on our past experience, landowners are most cooperative.”

Cr McMahon said all property owners had a General Biosecurity Obligation to take reasonable and practical measures to minimise biosecurity risk.

He said Council’s Biosecurity Plan defined Council’s critical function in administering the Biosecurity Act 2014 at a local government level.

“The Plan seeks to raise public awareness of invasive plants and animals to increase the capacity and willingness of individuals to manage invasive species and participate in their control,” Cr McMahon said.

“Voluntary compliance is the desired outcome. The Plan uses plain language to give a clear blueprint of steps involved in complying with the Act, and the expectations of all stakeholders involved in biosecurity.

“Council’s vision is for the Biosecurity Plan to foster a community that is intolerant of invasive plants and animals.

“Neither Council nor individual landholders would ever be likely to have sufficient resources to do everything. The Plan works on a risk management basis to enable the most effective biosecurity management with available resources.”

For more information on TRC’s Biosecurity Surveillance Program and invasive species, please visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/pests

Landholders can contact TRC’s Biosecurity Compliance team on 131 872 or visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au for more information.