Information and resources are available from Department of Primary Industries to prevent and prepare for emergency animal diseases, including:
- Lumpy skin disease (LSD)
- Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
- African swine fever (ASF).
These have the potential to cause significant and far-reaching impacts to Australia’s livestock industries, including considerable economic losses and restrictions.
Make sure you:
What you can do to prepare
You know your animals best. Make sure you:
- Look for and know the signs of LSD (cattle and buffalo) FMD (cloven-hoofed animals) and ASF (pigs)
- Report suspected cases of emergency animal diseases to your veterinarian and the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 immediately
- Protect your livestock and livelihood by:
What to do if there is an outbreak
Visit the Animal Health Australia website to understand the steps taken if there is an outbreak of LSD, FMD or ASF.
On 1 July 2016, the Biosecurity Act 2014 replaced the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 for legislating the management of pest species in Queensland. Landholders do not need to know about all biosecurity risks but are expected to know about those associated with land management activities.
Residents' general biosecurity obligation means they need to ensure their activities do not spread a pest, disease or contaminant. Outlined below are the responsibilities that landholders are responsible for in relation to managing pest species within the Gladstone Region.
- Take all reasonable and practical steps to prevent or minimise each biosecurity risk
- 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.
Biosecurity Surveillance Program(PDF, 999KB)
Gladstone Region Council has developed a Biosecurity Plan to strengthen and protect the region’s environment and ecosystems from biosecurity risks. In accordance with the Biosecurity Act 2014, the strategy replaces the previous Biosecurity Plan which expired in December 2025.
The Biosecurity Plan sets out key objectives and priority actions for our unique region. Key issues include invasive pest plants including Giant Rat's Tail grass (GRT), parthenium, feral leucaena, absentee landholders and pest animals including wild dogs, feral pigs, rabbits, foxes, Indian myna birds.
The plan was informed by community engagement and input, research, alignment with the Biosecurity Act 2014, along with consideration of emerging priorities. It also forms the foundation of Council actions which includes control of land, community education and awareness, and compliance and enforcement of the act within the region.
Biosecurity Plan 2026-30(PDF, 4MB)
During a General Council Meeting on 7 June 2022, Gladstone Regional Council resolved to implement an invasive species surveillance program under the Biosecurity Act 2014(Qld) commencing on 1 July 2022 to 31 May 2024.
This aims to:
- confirm the presence, or finding out the extent of the presence, of African Tulip Tree, Bellyache Bush, Giant Rat’s Tail Grass, Groundsel Bush, Harrisia Cactus, Mesquite, Parkinsonia, Parthenium, Prickly Acacia, Prickly Pear Spp., Rubber Vine; and
- monitor landholder compliance with requirements about prohibited matter or restricted matter.
A copy of the Surveillance Program(PDF, 999KB) is available for inspection or purchase, free of charge, at any Council Office or Rural Transaction Centre until the end of the program.
If you have any questions regarding the surveillance program, please contact Council's Biosecurity and Environmental Health team on (07) 4970 0700.
Gladstone Regional Council supports the establishment of Community Catchment Working Groups throughout the region to provide information and advice on pest management topics.
If residents are interested in establishing a catchment working group, please contact Council, who can provide further information and assistance.
The following Catchment Working Groups are currently active within the region:
- Boyne Valley Catchment Working Group - Coordinated by Capricornia Catchments
- Miriam Vale Rural Science & Landcare Society - Not coordinated by Council.
Giant Rat’s Tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis and Sporobolus natalensis) are category 3 restricted invasive plants under the Biosecurity Act 2014 and listed as a ‘containment’ species under the Council’s (PDF, 999KB)Biosecurity Plan 2026-30(PDF, 4MB).
Giant Rat’s Tail (GRT) grass can reduce pasture productivity, out-compete desirable pasture grasses and cause significant degradation of natural areas.
GRT grass seeds can spread quickly via livestock or by sticking onto vehicles and machinery and, once matured, is unpalatable to cattle, leading to health and productivity issues.
Under the general biosecurity obligation (GBO), property owners have the responsibility to take all reasonable and practical measures to minimise the biosecurity risk associated with invasive plants on their property.
The below education videos will provide advice for property owners in effective herbicide and management options for treating GRT infestations on their property.
Special thanks to Dr Wayne Vogler, Principal Scientist Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Biosecurity Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), in collaboration with Gladstone Regional Council, has concluded a five year research program to establish best practices for the management of Giant Rat’s Tail grass.
This invasive grass species reduces pasture productivity, out-competes desirable pasture grasses, can lead to heath issues when eaten by cattle and causes significant degradation of natural areas.
DAF Principal Scientist Wayne Vogler presented the study’s results, common infestation scenarios, ecology, effective herbicides, use of fire and pasture management at a Community Forum in May 2023.
View the report(PDF, 3MB)
Gladstone Regional Council is focused on maintaining and enhancing the region’s natural ecosystems while maintaining a healthy environment and productive agricultural systems.
The African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata) is a category 3 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014 and listed as a ‘containment’ species under the Council's Biosecurity Plan 2026-30(PDF, 4MB). It has been identified on both Council land and private properties throughout the region.
Concerns include its flowers being toxic to native insects, including the native stingless bees and its invasive growth pattern, crowding out native vegetation.
In recognition of community values, Council is committed to removing these trees from Council-controlled land and will then work with landholders to assist with the control and follow-up actions for the removal of this invasive weed on their property.
The program aims to reduce and eventually eradicate it from the Gladstone Region.
Council has removed approximately 127 African tulip trees from Council land across six location zones:
- Zone 1 – Agnes Water, Bororen, Turkey Beach, Miriam Vale, Benaraby
- Zone 2 – Boyne Island, Tannum Sands
- Zone 3 – Barney Point, Sun Valley, Telina, Toolooa, Kin Kora
- Zone 4 – New Auckland
- Zone 5 – Gladstone Central, South Gladstone, West Gladstone
- Zone 6 – Callemondah, Clinton
The removal from Council land was completed in mid-December 2021.