Councils join forces to combat invasive plant pest

FIVE Far North councils have joined forces in a Biosecurity Queensland project to help tackle an invasive plant that poses a real threat to the region’s world heritage rainforest.

Mareeba Shire Council, Tablelands Regional Council, Douglas Shire Council, Cairns Regional Council, Cassowary Coast Regional Council and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service are helping to raise awareness of miconia and the importance of eradicating it.

National Tropical Weed Eradication Program leader Mick Jeffery said 24 signs had been installed at popular walking tracks and other public areas in the council regions.

“The signs highlight miconia’s readily recognisable leaves, which can grow up to 1m long, have three distinct veins that run lengthwise along the leaf and a distinctive purple underside,” he said.

“Miconia species are listed as prohibited invasive plants and restricted invasive plants under the Biosecurity Act 2014, and all sightings of miconia must be reported to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours of being found.”

Mr Jeffery said Biosecurity Queensland was slowly succeeding in eradicating miconia from Kuranda.

“Areas are surveyed approximately every 12 months to find and destroy all seedlings before they get to the stage of producing a fresh generation of seed,” he said.

Far North residents are urged to check their properties and communities for the invasive plant, and report sightings to Biosecurity Queensland via daf.qld.gov.au, or at 13 25 23.