‘Fake’ poison warning signs spark alarm at Sunrise Beach fire track

A dramatic attempt to deter dog walkers has backfired after council revealed lethal poison warning signs at Sunrise Beach were placed without authorisation.

Residents of an exclusive beachside suburb have expressed their shock at someone allegedly placing ‘fake signs’ warning of a lethal poison on a local fire track.

Tony Alison uploaded a series of photos to Facebook of signs declaring 1080 poison bait had been laid on the fire track behind Sunrise Beach.

Mr Alison claimed Noosa Council nor Wildlife services were responsible for the signs, and expressed his frustration in the post.

“If you’re using this do you know the damage it does to wildlife and not just our dogs and cats,” Mr Alison posted.

“If this is a deterrent how far are you willing to go to stop the dogs being walked around the fire trail?”

Photo of the 1080 bait signs placed on the fire track behind Sunrise Beach. Photo: Tony Alison.

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority defines 1080 as a “vertebrate poison used for the control of feral pests, including rabbits, foxes, wild dogs and pigs”.

A Noosa council spokesman confirmed the 1080 baits had not been placed in this area by the council or wildlife service.

“Baiting activities are strictly regulated by the State Government and are not permitted to occur within five kilometres of a town unless approved,” the spokesman said.

“Noosa Council and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) can confirm no 1080 baiting activities have been approved or carried out in the Sunrise Beach area.”

The council believes these signs were placed by “a member of the public”, and the signs have been removed early this morning.

“Residents are encouraged to contact Council if they have any questions or concerns regarding baiting,” the spokesman said.

Portrait of a Jack Russell Terrier.

The signs whipped up a frenzy on Facebook, with most commenters agreeing the signs were a backhanded tactic.

“You have GOT to be kidding me!!!” Amanda Maclaren wrote.

“It is not lawful for an unlicensed person to lay 1080 bait, and what sort of backward mental m----- would you have to be to even consider it?”

“This s--- needs to be banned in Australia,” Adrian Fogarty said.

“It already is in most of the world now because of the offset damage it does down the track.

“I should know, I have seen it first hand farming.”

“That’s the poison they dump in NZ, kills everything,” Cain Brown wrote.

“F-----g pricks.”