Biosecurity concerns in focus at Miles Field Day

Wednesday, 19 Nov 2014

Biosecurity concerns in focus at Miles Field Day

19 November 2014

Biosecurity concerns, particularly in regards to coal seam gas (CSG) activities, will be the focus of a field day being held by AgForce Projects in Miles in on December 2.

AgForce Projects CSG Project Officer Daniel Phipps said biosecurity has become a significant concern for landholders, partly due to the increase in coal seam gas activities occurring on property.

"The AgForce Projects team undertook a survey of Queensland landholders affected by CSG earlier this year that revealed many are concerned about biosecurity.

"CSG is an industry that is operating across a diverse landscape and with increased traffic through or around your property there is an increased risk of biosecurity issues arising."

Mr Phipps said the field day will outline resource company obligations to manage pests and weeds, as well as other crucial information to mitigate potential biosecurity breaches. 

The CSG and Biosecurity Field Day includes guest speakers from Livestock Biosecurity Network (LBN), Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) and Western Downs Regional Council (WDRC).

LBN will be providing an overview on the day of pest animal control, as well as managing weed introduction and provide free record-keeping templates.

LBN Officer Corrie Grimmett said biosecurity plays a crucial role in the productivity of an enterprise, and it is in farmers' best interests to know what can be done to keep potential hazards to a minimum.

'LBN has developed a farm plan template that can assist producers in identifying and recording their on-farm biosecurity activities.

"This template helps to both a guide for what needs to be done, as well as an accountable system of promoting what is already being done on the farm."

The activities of LBN around Australia are designed to help raise awareness of livestock health and welfare issues and to assist producers in designing and implementing farm biosecurity systems that suit their enterprises.

The Miles CSG and Biosecurity Field Day is free for all landholders and runs from 8.30am to 2pm on December 2.

For more information or to register visit www.agforceprojects.org.au

AgForce Projects CSG Project is delivered free with the support of the Queensland Government, the GasFields Commission Queensland, the Queensland Resources Council and Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.