Pest Management
Biosecurity Act 2014
Invasive pest animals and plants present a serious threat to the agriculture and lifestyle of the Lockyer Valley region. Landholders have a responsibility under the Biosecurity Act 2014 to control prohibited and restricted (pest animals and plants) matter on their land.
- View Council's current Biosecurity Plan.
- View Council's Surveillance Program 2023-2026
- View notice of Council's Surveillance Program 2023-2026
What you can do
- Learn more about the problem, act responsibly and effectively. For information:
How Council can help
Council can assist landholders with pest management advice through a number of programs:
- Herbicide Subsidy Program
- Spray equipment loan
- Landholder Invasive Animal Control Subsidy Program
- Feral trap loan
- Feral Pig Bait Box loan
- Wild Dog/Dingo Scalp Bounty
- Community pest management groups
Council's Pest Management Officers also provide advice on the most effective way to use herbicide, traps and baits through onsite property visits and at workshops and field days.
Herbicide Subsidy Program
Council has identified 17 invasive weeds currently active or on alert under the Qld Biosecurity Act 2014.
The Qld Biosecurity Act 2014 states that landholders have a General Biosecurity Obligation (GBO) to take all reasonable and practical efforts to reduce the risks associated with restricted and prohibited pest weeds under their control.
Council's Herbicide Subsidy Program assists landholders in controlling invasive species by providing access to a suitable, registered herbicide at a 50 per cent subsided rate.
The invasive species identified include:
Grasses and Woody Weeds
- Giant Rat's Tail Grass
- Fireweed
- Mother of Millions
- Parthenium
- Annual Ragweed
- Groundsel Bush
- African Boxthorn
- Harrisia Cactus
- Lantana
- Chilean needle grass*
*weed of alert
Environmental Weeds
Aquatic Weeds
Visit daf.qld.gov.au for specific invasive weed factsheets that list registered herbicide control options.
If you suspect you have invasive species, please don't hesitate to contact Council to arrange a site visit by an experienced Pest Management Officer. Council's Pest Management Officers can assist with invasive weed identification, the control measures to effectively reduce the spread and outline the eligibility of the herbicide subsidy program.
If you have no access to spray equipment, Council has spray equipment for loan to landholders, or Council's Business Directory for Weed Control Contractor services may be an option for you.
Spray Equipment Loan
Council has spray equipment available for loan by landholders to assist in the treatment of pest weeds on their property. A security deposit and loan agreement are required to secure the necessary equipment. This can be arranged by downloading and completing the attached forms and contacting Council's Community Wellbeing Team on 1300 005 872 to secure the next available date.
Landholder Invasive Animal Control Subsidy Program
Due to changes to the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019, which took effect on 27 September 2021, Council has elected to cease any further distribution of 1080 baits for the control of invasive feral pest animals.
Council's Landholder Invasive Animal Control Subsidy Program assists landholders to control invasive feral animals and meet their General Biosecurity Obligations by offering eligible landholders a 50 per cent rebate on the GST exclusive price of restricted S7 Low Risk Fluroacetic Acid Baits (1080 LRFAB), up to $150. Check your eligibility for the subsidy prior to purchase of 1080 LRFAB by submitting an application to Council.
Rural landholders | Queensland Health outlines the various options, and the regulations required to use restricted schedule 7 (RS7) poisons to control invasive animals such as wild dogs, dingoes, foxes, rabbits, feral pigs and feral cats.
Landholders must obtain a general approval from Qld Health to purchase 1080 LRFAB from licensed suppliers. This general approval is valid for 2 years and allows the landholder to conduct their own baiting program when required. To apply, complete and submit to Qld Health the Application for General Approval . Applications require supporting information including driver’s license and recent rates notice.
For more information, contact the Pest Management Team on 1300 005 872.
Feral Trap Loan
Council has cage traps available to loan by landholders experiencing stock attack or crop destruction from feral animals (Fox, Wild Dog, Feral Pig, Rabbit). A refundable security bond is required for larger traps. Where cage traps are not suitable, Council's Pest Management Officers can work with landholders to undertake a foothold trapping program or other control methods such as 1080 or Hoggone baiting programs. Where trapping is used, landholders must have access to a licensed firearm holder for the entire trapping program to ensure humane euthanizing of trapped animals in compliance with the Animal Care and Protection Act. For more information, contact the Pest Management Team on 1300 005 872.
Another option is to visit Council's Business Directory for Feral Animal Control Contractors who offer specialist services.
Feral Pig Bait Box Loan
Council has Bait Boxes available for loan by landholders to assist in the control of feral pigs on their property. The bait box is designed to be used with HOGGONE® meSN® (microencapsulated sodium nitrite) feral pig bait. This bait acts quickly, with most feral pig carcasses found within 200m of the bait site. As the bait degrades quickly in both the carcass and environment, it is not a threat to scavenging animals and leaves no environmental residues. Unlike 1080 bait, no permit is required, however notification signage at all entry points to the baited area is compulsory.
- Step by step guide to use of HOGGONE feral pig bait
- Advice for baiting with HOGGONE feral pig bait
- Product Label for HOGGONE feral pig bait
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for HOGGONE feral pig bait
- ABC Landline news - HOGGONE feral pig bait
For more information, contact the Pest Management Team on 1300 005 872.
Wild Dog/Dingo Scalp Bounty
Council's accepts wild dog/dingo scalps of animals caught in the Lockyer Valley for a bounty of $25.
This bounty program is offered year-round to support landholders in their efforts to minimise the impacts of pest animals. Scalps cannot be accepted at Council's customer service counters and landholders must sign an application form upon submission indicating the lot and plan of the property where the animal was destroyed.
For more information, contact the Pest Management Team on 1300 005 872.
Community Pest Management Groups
Council can assist interested landholders to establish localised pest management groups within their neighbourhood to share information and take a collaborative approach to managing pest weeds and animals.
Lockyer Upper Catchments Incorporated (LUCI) is one such group.
For more information, contact the Pest Management team on 1300 005 872.
For more information about Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness, visit the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Engagement Hub for all the relevant fact sheets.
