Pest Animals and Plants
Pest Animals
The following animals were considered to be pests in the Cairns Regional Council area:
• Feral pigs
• Feral and wild dogs, including dingoes
• Cane rats
• Feral deer
Introduced rats and mice are subject to Health legislation and will not be dealt with in Council's pest management process.
Pest Plants
Eighty introduced plants species were identified by the Pest Management Working Group as current or potential pests to one or more of the various land uses in the Cairns Regional Council area. Of these, the pest plants with the highest priority rating were included in the Cairns Regional Council Pest Management Plan. The most management effort is put into the control of Thunbergia, Giant Sensitive Plant, Sicklepod, Pond apple and Hymenachne.
As a concerned resident or visitor to Cairns, we invite you to report the location of pets plants and animals that are declared under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 ("the Act").
It is a landowner's obligation under the Act to control or eradicate pest plants and animals on their own land.
Please be aware that due to resourcing, Council's priorities in terms of control will be firstly Class (2) then Class (3) pest plants and animals, whilst Class (1) is the responsibility of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
How to Report a Pest
Please note that if the pest you wish to report is not on the menu lists, then it is not a responsibility of Council. For a full list of declared pests click here.
Other useful links
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Department of Natural Resources and Water Weed and Pest Management Fact Sheets
