By Jess Baker
Southern Downs Regional Council has released its draft Invasive Pests Strategic Plan 2020-24 for public consultation, with landholder compliance measures that look very different to that enforced in the past.
The Invasive Pests Control Scheme (IPCS) levy, which was central to the Invasive Pests Strategic Plan 2016-20, has been wiped from the reviewed plan and replaced with a “continuum of activities” to assist landholders in meeting their obligations.
“Council’s primary means of achieving compliance with the Biosecurity Act is by Council officers conducting inspections in response to newly discovered outbreaks, seasonal conditions, and in responding to complaints,” the draft 2020-24 plan read.
The new compliance process will commence when a pest is discovered, at which time a SDRC officer will arrange to meet with the landholder and communicate to them their pest management obligations.
The landholder will then receive a Pest Advice Letter, and the officer will arrange a follow-up inspection.
If no action is taken to address the pest issue, a SDRC officer may issue a Biosecurity Order detailing the issue and control works required.
Another follow-up inspection will be arranged by the officer and, in the event the biosecurity order has not been complied with, they may issue a Penalty Infringement Notice.
Beyond this point, if the landholder continues to take no action to address the pest issue, a final written notification may be provided to the landholder advising SDRC may complete the necessary control work at the landholder’s cost.
This draft compliance process differs significantly to that of the 2016-20 Plan, which relied heavily on the implementation of the IPCS – a special rate coupled with an upfront concession that was retained if landholders’ obligations were met and rescinded if they were not.
SDRC resolved to place a moratorium on applying the IPCS levy in May 2020 to provide some reprieve from the effects of the drought and Covid-19.
At an ordinary meeting in January 2021, Southern Downs councillors narrowly voted to discontinue the IPCS.
Some of the councillors who spoke against the scheme in January suggested an incentive-based approach to invasive pests control would be more ethical and more effective than a penalty-based approach.
While others in favour of the scheme argued it might just have been the ‘wakeup call’ some landholders needed.
In a SDRC report tabled at the council’s 12 May 2021 ordinary meeting, officers noted the decision to discontinue the IPCS triggered a redeployment of officers involved with the administration of the scheme.
“This has resulted in reduced pest management staffing resources; a factor taken into consideration in the draft Invasive Pests Strategic Plan 2020-24…” read the report.
Residents of the region are encouraged to review the draft plan, which can be viewed on the council’s website or at Warwick and Stanthorpe administration centres.
Feedback must be submitted via the website at www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/have-your-say/draft-invasive-pests-strategic-plan-
2020-2024 or emailed to sustainability@sdrc.qld.gov.au by 18 June 2021.
