General News
5 November, 2025
Public input to help shape biosecurity plan
PUBLIC feedback on a draft five-year biosecurity management plan will wind up today as Mareeba Shire Council continues to push for an increase in funding levels for the protection of the region’s flora and fauna.
Approved by council at its October meeting, the draft plan provides a framework for targeted biosecurity management, whether it be for invasive weed species or feral animals – which now includes feral deer.
In discussions on the plan, Deputy Mayor Lenore Wyatt commended the major redesign of the document to be much more “user-friendly”, with new fact sheets, new formatting and a presentation that was in line with other councils.
Pest Advisory Committee chair Cr Ross Cardillo said the plan aimed to bring together residents, landholders, industry and government.
“By working together, we can reduce the impacts of invasive species on our environment, economy and way of life,” he said.
Mayor Angela Toppin said, however, that there was a “lot of cost shifting from the state”, which was putting pressure on local government.
“We cannot do all that is required, there are more and more pests, but the money stays the same,” she said.
A recent meeting with biosecurity had made it clear that the minister wanted more action from local government, Mayor Toppin said after the meeting.
“But you can’t have more action if you don’t get more money,” she said.
“Ratepayers can’t pay for everything. This is a state issue.
“It is a constant argument, yet biosecurity is so important for the country, not just this region.”
Council was hoping to achieve leverage with its new five-year plan to argue for more funding for long-term projects.
“Unfortunately, federal and state funding is for short-term, one or two-year programs, which doesn’t do anything,” a council spokesperson added.
“If you’re going to deal with a pest, you actually have got to fund a program for a long period of time.
“The Yellow Crazy Ants was a 10-year eradication project and look at how successful it has been.”
The spokesman said the Amazon frogbit - an aquarium plant which has inundated FNQ waterways - was an example of a project that attracted two years of funding and while it was almost under control, there was no further funding and “it will be back”.
Similarly, funding for feral pig reduction showed numbers could drop with consistent effort, but as soon as it was withdrawn, “they are back again” within a year.
The Mareeba Shire Community Biosecurity Plan (2025–2030) will use a risk-based approach to:
Assist in the prioritisation of resources to manage invasive plants and animals;
Develop management strategies for high-priority invasive plants and animals which occur, or might occur, within the Mareeba Local Government Area (MLGA);
Provide management outcomes for specific high-priority species, and
Provide for the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment and liveability of the MLGA.
The plan will also outline species management responsibilities across individuals, agencies and organisations, while providing landholders with practical tools and guidance to support effective local management.
Council will be reviewing submissions, which closed today, from residents, landholders and stakeholders, before finalising the plan.
