EIS information guideline  Biosecurity
Threats to consider include: Animal biosecurity (health, disease), plant biosecurity (plant health, pests, diseases),
invasive plants and animals (weeds, pest animals, exotic marine pests), chemical use, residues and contaminant
risks), exotic tramp ants, Asian honeybee.
Relevant Acts
Biosecurity threats include declared plants under the Plant Protection Act 1989 and the Land Protection (Pest and
Stock Route Management) Regulation 2003, weeds of national significance, animal diseases under the Stock Act
1915 and Exotic Diseases in Animals Act 1981, and designated pests under the Public Health Act 2005. These
acts also provide local governments with the legal instrument they need to enforce the management of high-priority
weeds and pest animals. The Stock Act 1915 and Stock Regulation 1988 provide measures to address biosecurity
risks relating to contaminants such as heavy metals and plant toxins in livestock animals.
For more information on biosecurity threats and their management, see www.daff.qld.gov.au.
Note: The Biosecurity Act 2014 was passed in Parliament on 6 March 2014. It will come into effect by 1 July 2016.
The Act delivers a single cohesive legislative framework for biosecurity in Queensland.
Addressing biosecurity
Matters to consider in addressing Biosecurity issues for an EIS include:
 The location and abundance of any terrestrial or aquatic pest plants
 The location and abundance of any terrestrial and aquatic pest animals, including those of economic or
conservation significance
 The location and abundance of marine pests
 The location and abundance of any diseases for plant and animal pests
 The location and abundance of any chemical residues or contaminants
 Alignment with priorities for Pest Management as outlined in the Local Government Area Pest Management
Plan
 How existing biosecurity threats will be managed to prevent further spread
 How the introduction and establishment of new biosecurity threats will be prevented
 The potential impacts of biosecurity threats upon neighbouring properties
 The potential impacts of biosecurity threats upon native flora and fauna
 The quarantine arrangements and where decontamination facilities will be located
 Locations of barrier fences and quarantine zones.
Matters to consider in addressing weeds and pest animals include:
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The species of pests, on site and adjacent to the site
Risk assessment of identified species and their social, environmental and economic impact
How the risk of introduction of new pests will be managed
How existing pests will be controlled and their spread limited
If chemical control is proposed, what chemicals will be used, how will they be stored and disposed of and the
proposed timing of their usage
 What are the potential impacts of the chemical and other operations on agricultural production.
Mitigating biosecurity risks
If the project is identified as having a significant biosecurity risk, the proponent should describe the measures that
would be taken to manage this risk. These measures should be tailored to the type, level and likelihood of the risk.
A selection of measures that should be considered by the proponent in mitigating biosecurity risks includes:
EIS information guideline  Biosecurity
Weeds and weed spread prevention and management
 Identify and map weeds around a project area
 Vehicles entering and leaving the project site should stick to designated roads and tracks and avoid weedinfested areas
 Vehicle and machinery wash down and disposal areas should be monitored every 6-8 weeks for weed presence
and if weeds are discovered they must be controlled in accordance with current control measures
 Weeds removed through control activities must be disposed of properly
 Equipment, boots, vehicles and machinery should be cleaned when leaving known weed-infested areas
 Boats, propellers, trailers and any other machinery or equipment used in aquatic environments should be
checked and any plant material removed before entering or leaving waterways
 Water transfer equipment should be appropriately designed so that the transfer of water does not spread
aquatic weeds between water bodies
 Control activities (herbicide spraying, fire) must be carried out in compliance with all relevant state and
commonwealth legislation
 Ensure that revegetation or landscaping activities use endemic vegetation species and any mulch or soil is
weed free
 Develop a weed management plan for the construction and operation of the project.
Feral animal management and control programs and measures
 Describe the management strategies to be implemented to ensure that numbers of pest animals do not increase
as a result of the project
 Detail how pest animals will be managed around residential quarters, temporary camps, waste tips and other
areas associated with the project
 Describe the actions (such as regularly maintained exclusion fencing, secure bins) to be taken to ensure that
rubbish and other potential food sources are inaccessible to pest animals
 Describe actions to be used for the control of pest animals (i.e. trapping, baiting, exclusion fencing, monitoring)
 Outline actions to be taken for the control of pest animals to prevent movement within or out of the project area
 Ensure regulatory considerations and codes of practice in relation to the control of pest animals (e.g. firearms
licence, humane destruction of pest animals) are adhered to.
Mitigating risk of disease and feral animals
 Prevent access to food waste. Ensure food wastes containing animal matter are disposed of correctly to reduce
the risk of disease. Consider potential access by both domestic and feral animals. Feral pigs in particular create
special difficulties.
Use a licensed waste disposal contractor
Food waste should be collected and transported in containers that livestock and/or pest animals are unable to
access
Dispose of material at a dump site that is adequately fenced and secure from animal entry to the site.
Mitigating the risk of marine pests entering Queensland
 Monitoring, prevention and mitigation approaches for invasive marine pests are developed in accordance with
the National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions (2010); the Australian
marine pest monitoring manual, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Australian marine pest
monitoring guidelines, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry or latest editions.
Mitigating the risk of disease-causing agents, weeds and chemicals
Disease, weeds and chemical contaminants can be brought onto a property with water or food, or on machinery.
To reduce risks:
 Assess water sources for diseases, chemicals or algal bloom
 Ensure machinery is cleaned and disinfected with high-pressure water or air to remove soil, weed seeds and
other contaminants before entry onto the property
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EIS information guideline  Biosecurity
 Clean and disinfect equipment thoroughly.
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