- Report sightings of invasive animals.
- Never dump unwanted pets in the bush or in waterways.
- Provide a refuge for lizards and small marsupials by leaving dead and fallen timber, hollow logs and piles of stones around your property.
- If you own a large property, ensure your fencing allows native wildlife to move through and around safely.
- Don’t feed invasive animals. Cover and/or secure all potential food sources.
- Use only native fish in outdoor ponds.
- Aquarium plants and dead fish should be buried or put in the rubbish.
- Release aquarium and pond water onto the garden. Never release into the toilet, stormwater drain or waterway.
- If you find aquatic weeds or exotic fish in a creek or dam, seek expert advice on control options immediately.
Biosecurity in Brisbane
Find out how we protect our environment and community from biosecurity hazards. Learn what you can do to help.
About biosecurity in Brisbane
Council is committed to keeping Brisbane clean, green and sustainable, which includes protecting animals, plants and the community against the spread of harmful diseases.
We also work to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful pests and invasive species that could negatively impact our environment, biodiversity and economy.
Our Biosecurity Plan for Brisbane has been developed to manage biosecurity risks and invasive species in Brisbane in accordance with the Biosecurity Act 2014 and Natural Assets Local Law 2003 (NALL).
Biosecurity Act 2014
The Biosecurity Act 2014 (the Act) provides measures to protect Queensland's economy, environment and industries from pests, diseases and contaminants.
The Act replaced the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 for the legislative management of invasive species in Queensland.
For more information about the Act, visit the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
General Biosecurity Obligation
Under the Act, everyone in Queensland has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO). This means that you need to ensure your activities do not spread a pest, disease or contaminant (a biosecurity matter).
You need to:
- take all reasonable and practical steps to prevent or minimise the biosecurity risk of any adverse effect caused or likely to be caused by biosecurity matter
- minimise the likelihood of the risk causing a biosecurity event and limit the consequences of such an event
- prevent or minimise the adverse effects the risk could have and refrain from doing anything that might exacerbate the adverse effects.
Prohibited and restricted matter
Certain species of invasive plants and animals are listed as prohibited or restricted matter under the Act.
These species pose a serious threat to the environment, industries, health and livestock.
Prohibited matter is a disease, contaminant or living thing such as a plant, animal, insect or fish that is not found in Queensland.
If prohibited matter was to enter Queensland, it may have a significant adverse effect on our natural environment, economy and social amenity.
If you find prohibited matter, you must report it to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.
Restricted matter is a disease, contaminant or living thing such as a plant, animal, insect or fish that is currently present in Queensland.
Restricted matters have specific actions that must be undertaken to limit their impact by reducing, controlling or containing them.
Certain restricted matters must also be reported to either Biosecurity Queensland (category 1) or Council (category 2) within 24 hours.
Biosecurity Plan
The Biosecurity Plan for Brisbane manages biosecurity risks and invasive species in the Brisbane Local Government Area. It uses a risk-based methodology to prioritise the invasive plants and animals listed within the Act.
The plan has been designed to:
- evaluate the risks and impacts posed by invasive plants and animals to the Brisbane area
- develop options to overcome those impacts
- identify and communicate the strategies and actions available to manage invasive species impacts on private and public land
- implement actions and strategies to manage the risks and impacts of invasive species on private and public land
- provide Council with the tools to amend the management approach in response to changes to the risks or impacts of invasive species.
Biosecurity programs
The Biosecurity Plan for Brisbane contains biosecurity programs, which have been developed to manage invasive plants and animals on both public and private land in Brisbane.
The programs enable Council to monitor compliance with obligations and, where appropriate, carry out management actions under the Act.
Biosecurity programs detail strategies that will be used to manage high-risk pest species. Each program lists its purpose, commencement date and the period over which the programs are to be undertaken.
Download and read the Biosecurity Plan for Brisbane.
To find out more about the biosecurity programs, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.
Invasive species management under NALL
The Act empowers Council to use local laws to control species that are not listed in the Act but are a threat to Brisbane's biodiversity. Programs authorised under the Natural Assets Local Law 2003 (NALL) complement the Biosecurity Plan for Brisbane and help achieve its objectives.
You can download a list of pest vegetation species managed under NALL.
