Whitsunday Regional Council votes on biosecurity, pet registrations, Shute Harbour

Four key items were on the table including pet registrations and feral animal management. Here’s how your council voted on the issues.

Feral pig management featured on the agenda at this week’s Whitsunday Regional Council meeting. Picture: File

Whitsunday Regional Council presented a united front at this week’s ordinary meeting at Proserpine, accepting their officers’ recommendations and refraining from debate.

Here are some of the decisions.

A new biosecurity plan lists the continuation and expansion of the council’s feral animal aerial shooting program as a high priority. Picture: File

New biosecurity plan – CARRIED

The council adopted a new five-year pest plant and animal and pathogen management plan with a few minor changes to incorporate community feedback.

The meeting agenda stated 12 people made submissions during the June-July 2021 consultation period, identifying pigs and the Leucaena plant as the region’s highest priority biosecurity issues, and calling for a new Yellow Crazy Ant infestation to be included in the plan.

The officer’s report stated “the results from the consultation process highlighted residents are either not engaged in pest management or are not happy with council’s efforts,” and that “this suggests that to meet community expectations, council may need to invest more resources in the future to raise awareness and combat pest plants and animals across the region”.

The plan itself lists the continuation and expansion of the council’s feral animal aerial shooting program, and the implementation of a Whitsunday Yellow Crazy Ant eradication program among its highest priorities.

It states pest animals cost the Whitsundays’ agriculture sector an estimated $12.5m in lost productivity annually, and that the estimated environmental impact is $28m annually.

The council’s Natural Resource Management and Climate coordinator Scott Hardy told the meeting Whitsunday’s estimated feral pig population was between 15,000 to 20,000 and that those numbers would “skyrocket” without the council’s feral animal management plan, which included baiting, trapping and aerial shooting in cooperation with Queensland Parks and Wildlife and the state government.

Community services director Julie Wright told the meeting Yellow Crazy Ant monitoring showed the numbers were “very low” at the three infestation sites: Shute Harbour, Funnel Bay and Hamilton Island. The next round of aerial and ground ant baiting is planned for the end of September.

Cats and dogs in the Whitsundays must be registered from three months of age with owners facing on the spot fines for non-compliance.

Pet registration checks – CARRIED

The council signed off on its Local Laws Officers’ annual ‘Selective Inspection Program’, which involves visiting residential properties to check dog and cat owners’ compliance with registration requirements.

This year’s program will take place from Monday, September 27 to Friday, December 17 at residential properties within the Whitsunday Regional Council Local Government area.

Authorised Officers carrying identification badges will carry out the inspections between the hours of 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

The officer’s report stated there were 4788 registered dogs in the Whitsundays in the 2020-21 financial year, and 572 registered cats.

For the current financial year, the council had received 3777 dog and 468 cat registrations as of August 31.

The report stated animal registration and approval to keep multiple animals are “vital in ensuring animal related matters are resolved in an effective and efficient manner”.

The motion was carried without debate.

Fireworks featured at Whitsunday Regional Council's Bowen Cyclone Recovery Party at Bowen Soundshell, pictured, as well as the 2021 Multicultural Festival, held at the same location.

Multicultural festival move – CARRIED

After the Whitsunday Multicultural Festival’s successful debut at Bowen this year, the council will apply for funding to host a 2022 event at Proserpine or Airlie Beach.

The inaugural multicultural festival, along the Bowen Foreshore on July 30, attracted more than 500 people to celebrate the region’s numerous cultural groups and performers through song, dance, and stories.

Next year’s event is proposed to be held at either the new Proserpine Entertainment Centre or on the Airlie Beach Foreshore in or after July.

The officer’s report stated an event in the southern end of the region would “allow for culture and traditions of multiple cultural groups to enhance appreciation and recognition of the diverse cultures in Queensland”.

The council voted in favour of applying to the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland Events Program for $10,000 towards the event. If successful, the council will be required to provide $10,000 in co-funding from its own budget.

Development director Neil McGaffin told the meeting the council intended for the festival to become an annual event and “take turns” between Bowen and a southern location each year.

An image from Whitsunday Regional Council's latest Shute Harbour project update. Picture: WRC

Shute Harbour progress update – CARRIED

The latest Shute Harbour marine terminal progress report was presented for discussion, with the redeveloped facility forecast to open to the public in “mid-November at the earliest”.

The council had planned to complete works at the cyclone-ravaged harbour by September but several factors including the “the current Covid-19 environment” have pushed back the opening date.

“There are current delays in procurement of baggage handling system due to Covid-19, there are also delays in procurement of the terminal building switchboard due to a lack of componentry in Australia,” the officer’s report stated.

Cr Gary Simpson asked whether the boat ramp could be opened to the public by Christmas time, even if the rest of the facility was not ready.

Disaster Recovery director Trevor Williams responded “I don’t see any reason why not”.

“I’m still looking at the November timing to present to council the complete facility”.

The council’s ‘Your Say’ website states the community can expect the terminal to reopen “by the end of 2021, weather permitting”.

To what else was on the agenda, visit the council’s website.