Toowoomba Regional Council will start inspecting properties for invasive weeds and animals from next month.
The new Biosecurity Surveillance Program, which is set to run from September this year until August next year, was approved by the council this week.
Councillor Tim McMahon said while the entire Toowoomba Regional Council area was included in the surveillance program, the council had identified priority surveillance areas.
Areas including Elphinstone, Brookstead, Back Plains Quinalow, Glenaven and Boodua were named as priority areas.
“Council’s property inspection efforts will be concentrated in these areas based on the records we hold regarding the distribution of prohibited and restricted plants, a risk assessment in relation to these species, our resourcing capacity or as a result of a complaint raised with Council,” Cr McMahon said.
Cr McMahon said the councils wanted to confirm the presence and extent of invasive species such as Chilean needle grass, prickly pears, harrisia cactus, African boxthorn, honey locusts, mother of millions, giant rat’s tail grass, giant Parramatta grass and groundsel bush, among other species.
“All properties that are inspected for this purpose will be monitored for compliance,’’ Cr McMahon.
“Council will make every effort to contact a property owner or occupier to gain their permission to enter the site if it’s necessary to inspect the property.
“Based on our past experience, landowners are most cooperative.”
Cr McMahon said all property owners had an obligation to take reasonable and practical measures to minimise biosecurity risks.