Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) will start property inspections from September as part of the 2025-2026 Biosecurity Surveillance Program.
The new program, which is scheduled to run from September 1, 2025 to August 30, 2026, was endorsed at today's (August 19, 2025) Ordinary Meeting of Council.
TRC Parks and Recreation Services portfolio spokesperson Cr Tim McMahon said while the entire Toowoomba Regional Council area was included in the surveillance program, Council had identified priority surveillance areas.
Cr McMahon said localities including Elphinstone, Brookstead and Back Plains in the southern part of the Region along with northern areas near Quinalow, Glenaven and Boodua (see map below) were identified as priority surveillance areas for purposes of confirming the presence and extent of invasive biosecurity matter.
"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 (also based on the observable presence of invasive biosecurity matter), a risk assessment in relation to these species, our resourcing capacity or as a result of a complaint raised with Council," Cr McMahon said.
"The 12-month program covers Council's legislative requirements to monitor compliance with the Biosecurity Act 2014 (the Act) that ensures the management of prohibited and restricted biosecurity matter, or more broadly, invasive plants and animals.
