The recently completed Enhancing Local Government Biosecurity Capability (ELGBC) project has delivered an important step forward in protecting the landscapes, communities, and livelihoods of South-Western Cape York from invasive species and biosecurity risks.
The project, initiated to assess and strengthen local biosecurity capacity, brought together five Councils—Mareeba, Cook, Carpentaria, Kowanyama, and Pormpuraaw—alongside ranger teams and regional stakeholders. Their shared mission: building stronger, more coordinated responses to biosecurity threats that know no boundaries.
Collaborative Effort
Through five network meetings and associated field visits, the ELGBC project provided a detailed evaluation of:
- Biosecurity planning and policy
- Operational readiness and resources
- On-ground capacity for weed and pest management
- Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
The process revealed that while each Shire operates within unique geographical, cultural, and resource contexts, a number of common themes emerged.
Key Findings
- Strong on-ground commitment: Despite staffing shortages and infrastructure limitations, Councils demonstrated determination to tackle invasive weeds and pests.
- Variation in planning documents: Biosecurity plans and strategies differ in quality and currency. Smaller Councils, in particular, require support to review and update plans with locally driven insights.
- Balancing education and enforcement: Effective biosecurity requires careful management of relationships with landholders and communities alongside regulatory action.
- Improving surveillance and data management: Monitoring practices vary, but opportunities exist to adopt shared regional standards and platforms to strengthen information exchange.
Importance of Partnerships
The report highlights that collaboration is critical. Neighbouring Councils and external partners—including FNQROC, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF), and NRM groups—play a vital role in sharing expertise, accessing funding, and delivering coordinated regional responses.
By pooling knowledge and resources, the region is better equipped to address challenges that exceed the capacity of any single local government.
Looking Ahead
The ELGBC report provides a clear pathway for improving biosecurity capacity through practical support, stronger planning, and sustained cooperation across Councils and agencies.
As biosecurity risks continue to evolve, this collective approach ensures Cape York communities remain better protected into the future.