Biosecurity

Hamilton Island is located in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and the biodiversity of this World Heritage Area is unmatched by any other (source: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority). Biosecurity is a crucial part of how Hamilton Island prevents, responds to and recovers from animal and plant pests that threaten our environment.

Whitsunday Regional Council Biosecurity Plan

The Whitsunday Council has developed a comprehensive Plan in consultation with regional land management owners stakeholders, which outlines its approach to pest management in the region and complies with the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014. This plan applies to all land within the jurisdiction of the Whitsunday Regional Council, including Hamilton Island.

Excerpts from the Whitsunday Biosecurity Plan:
 
Pest plant and animals impact on the biodiversity of the Whitsunday region and its economy… Weeds can out compete native plants for soil nutrients and water, and reduce habitat area for native animals. The Whitsunday Regional Council estimate that approximately 150,000ha of land is infested with pest plants across the region.
 
Feral animals such as pigs, dogs and cats feed on native animals and can have detrimental impacts on ecosystem services… [they] can cause accelerated erosion of stream banks and damage downstream ecosystems through sedimentation. It has been estimated that feral animals cost Whitsunday regional landholders $18 million/yr in lost productivity.
 
To view the Plan, and learn more about which pest species are present and how they are managed in the Whitsunday region, visit the Pest Management, Biodiversity and Wildlife page on the Whitsunday Regional Council website.