Living Here
Pest species degrade natural ecosystems, impact on agricultural productivity, threaten biodiversity, can impact on human health and interfere with recreational and cultural uses and values of an area.
Invasive pest plants
Property Pest Management planning
Invasive Species Grants Program
Taskforce Herbicide Subsidy Scheme
Vehicle washdown facilities and hygiene inspections
Biological Control Program
To manage pest species throughout the Gladstone Region, Gladstone Regional Council has developed the Gladstone Regional Council Biosecurity Plan 2021-2025. The plan identifies a number of broad actions and goals that Council will work towards in managing invasive plants and animals.
Invasive pest plants
Invasive pest plants pose a major economic, environmental and social threat to the Gladstone Region. Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, all landholders have a General Biosecurity Obligation (GBO) to manage the risks that invasive pest plants pose.
The main invasive pest plants of concern in the region are:
Maderia Vine Groundsel Bush Mother of Millions Rubber Vine Water Hyacinth
Hymenachne Feral Leucaena Parthenium Water Lettuce Giant Rats Tail Grass
To assist landholders in meeting this obligation, Gladstone Regional Council provides a number of invasive pest plant programs.
Council works to control invasive pest plants on Council land with the region’s roadsides controlled by Council Officers.
All roads are on scheduled routine work programs with the main focus Giant Rats Tail Grass and Parthenium.
The wet season schedule includes:
- Giant Rats Tail Grass – three month rotational schedule
- Parthenium – four weekly schedule
The dry season schedule includes:
- Giant Rats Tail Grass – three month rotational schedule
- Parthenium – six weekly schedule
- Feral Leucaena, Groundsel Bush, Mother of Millions and Rubbervine - annually
If you see these species please report online or contact Council on (07) 49700 0700 to report it. We may already have this location listed on the schedule, however for those that are new infestations Council can inspect, control and schedule in for future maintenance.
See also
Restricted invasive plants of Queensland
Gladstone Regional Council Biosecurity Plan
Biosecurity Act 2014 (refer to Schedule 2 Part 2 for a full list of invasive plants)
Spray Equipment Hire
Giant rat’s tail grass is an aggressive grass that can reduce pasture productivity, out-compete desirable pasture grasses and cause significant degradation of natural areas. It can outcompete, and in some cases, totally eliminate native flora. View factsheet for more information.
Property Pest Management planning
Council offers landholders access to free onsite appointments to assist in the development of a Property Pest Management Plan. While Property Pest Management Plans are not required under the Biosecurity Act 2014, they are an effective planning tool for landholders in managing invasive pest species.
Gladstone Regional Council's Property Pest Management Plans are a three year document and provide details on:
- Location and density of invasive pest infestations on the property
- Best management practice control measures to implement, including types of herbicides, costs and control timing
- Assistance programs available to the landholder.
Invasive Species Grants Program
This program assists landholders in managing containment invasive species listed under the Gladstone Regional Council Biosecurity Plan. The Invasive Species Grants Program allows landholders to apply for a financial grant of up to $500 per year, to contribute towards the management of containment invasive species on their land within the Gladstone Region.
To be eligible for the program, landholders must:
- Have a containment pest species infestation (excluding wild dogs) on their property within the Gladstone Region
- Have a current Property Pest Management Plan with Gladstone Regional Council, outlining what management actions they propose to undertake over a three year period
- Not have received assistance through the Taskforce Herbicide Subsidy Scheme for the current financial year
- Provide a receipt for the purchase of chemical, fuel for mixing with herbicide, hire spray equipment, and/or associated equipment, along with a grant reimbursement application, in line with the actions outlined in the applicable Property Pest Management Plan.
- Consent to an annual property inspection to assess progress.
Containment Line maps:
Feral Leucaena Giant Rats Tail Grass Parthenium Rubber Vine
Taskforce Herbicide Subsidy Scheme
Fluproponate, the active ingredient in Taskforce, is the most effective chemical control option for the management of Giant Rats Tail Grass.
Council provide landholders the opportunity to purchase taskforce herbicide at a subsidised rate to control Giant Rats Tail Grass on their property within the Gladstone Region through the Taskforce Herbicide Subsidy Scheme.
To be eligible for the scheme, landholders must have a current Property Pest Management Plan with Council. Maximum quantities apply and are dependent on land size and infestation densities and are determined by a Council Pest Management Officer.
Landholders must pay for the chemical prior to collection and consent to an annual property inspection to assess progress.
View the Material Safety Data Sheet for Taskforce
Vehicle washdown facilities and hygiene inspections
Council has two 24 hour vehicle weed and seed washdown facilities located on Stowe Road, Calliope and Aldoga Drive, Aldoga.
Calliope Washdown Facility is token and coin operated. The facility takes $1 or $2 coins.
Aldoga Washdown Facility is operated by either a $2 coin or AVDATA key. Keys can be purchased at a cost from:
- Gladstone Office, 101 Goondoon Street, Gladstone
- Calliope Library and Transaction Centre, 3 Don Cameron Drive, Calliope
- AVDATA Australia on (02) 6262 8111.
Weed and seed vehicle inspections are available at the Calliope Washdown Facility and Miriam Vale Depot between 7am - 2pm Monday to Friday. Bookings are mandatory, with a minimum of 24 hours' notice. Bookings between 7am - 8am are free (fees apply outside this time).
Council washdown facilities are there to prevent and minimise the spread of weeds and seeds. The washdown facilities operate on non-potable water and are not to be used for Water trucks or pods to fill containers of water for personal use.
For access to water for personal use please see Standpipe Water.
Biological Control Program
Council can provide a number of biological control agents (free of charge) to landholders for the management of invasive pest plants within the Gladstone Region.
Invasive pest plants that can be controlled through Council's Biological Control Program include:
- Salvinia.
