Queensland Feral Pest Initiative

The Queensland Feral Pest Initiative (QFPI) funds projects for invasive plant and animal management in drought-affected regions across the state.

Funding now open – round 5

The Unite & Recover economic recovery stimulus package includes funding of $5 million for cluster fencing, as part of the Queensland Government’s response to the unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Queensland Government is committed to working with the regions by building on actions already implemented and supporting actions taken in the short and medium-term; to sustain and create jobs now and into the future; build resilience; and take advantage of opportunities in a changing and challenging economic landscape.

How to apply:

Read the supporting documents and download the application form.

Submit your application and supporting documents to qldferalpestinit@daf.qld.gov.au. Applications close 5pm, Wednesday 11 November 2020.

About the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative

Since 2015, the Queensland Government has allocated $19.74 million to assist regional communities with the construction of cluster fences and the control of invasive plants and animals through the QFPI. This investment has been complemented with $14 million from the Federal Government.

The QFPI provides funding to eligible organisations including:

  • National Resource Management (NRM) groups
  • incorporated industry associations
  • local government, regional organisations or an equivalent body

Eligible organisations must develop regional projects through consultation with affected stakeholders that may include:

  • local government, regional NRM groups
  • primary producers
  • wild dog committees
  • landcare groups, catchment management groups, environmental organisations and other community groups
  • local training and employment organisations
  • Indigenous groups

The QFPI Oversight Group governs the development and implementation of the initiative and includes representatives from:

  • Non-government: AgForce, Queensland Farmers Federation, Local Government Association of Queensland, NRM Regions Queensland, Queensland Conservation Council, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and Centre for Invasive Species Solutions.
  • Government: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Department of Environment and Science.

For more information please direct enquires to QldFeralPestInit@daf.qld.gov.au

Previous funding

  • Round 1

    Funding of $15 million was allocated in 2016, for invasive plant and animal projects. This included wild dog cluster fencing, wild dog control programs and invasive plant management with the construction of approximately 5,000 kilometres of cluster fencing in priority sheep growing areas within Queensland.

    Organisation Project nameStatus*
    Southern Downs Regional Council Increasing Community support and participation in wild dog management activities in the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi Regional Council areas Completed
    South West NRM Collaborative Area Management Phase 2 Completed
    Goondiwindi Regional Council Goondiwindi Regional Council coordinated feral pest project Completed
    Maranoa Regional Council Maranoa Regional Collaborative Area Management Plan Completed
    Quilpie Shire Council Quilpie Shire/SWRED wild dog on ground action plan Completed
    RAPAD Central Western Queensland and Flinders Region strategic fencing initiative Completed
    Desert Channels Queensland Tackling prickly acacia through aligned weed management Completed
    Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Improve feral cat management in eastern Australia in partnership with universities, state government and not for profit land management agencies and other invasive species management research agencies Completed

  • Round 2

    Funding of $8.84 million was allocated in 2017, for invasive plant and animal projects. This also included wild dog cluster fencing, wild dog control programs and invasive plant management, with construction of approximately 2,000 kilometres of cluster fencing added to priority sheep growing areas across Queensland.

    Organisation Project nameStatus*
    RAPAD Central Western Queensland and Flinders Region cluster fencing Completed
    Cape York NRM Reducing the economic and environmental impacts of high priority weeds in the Cape York region Completed
    Desert Channels Queensland Northern Lake Eyre Basin prickly acacia eradication program - Stage 3 Completed
    Fitzroy Basin Association Dawson Catchment Integrated Vertebrates pest control (DCIV) Completed
    Southern Queensland NRM (formerly Queensland Murray-Darling Committee) Eradicating breeding population of rabbits in local area and strategic deer control in targeted areas In delivery
    Townsville City Council Yellow crazy ant program, Nome Townsville Completed
    Goondiwindi Regional Council Goondiwindi Regional Council Stage 2 cluster fence project Completed
    Maranoa Regional Council Barrier fence to the Queensland border Collaborative Area Management Project In delivery
    Western Downs Regional Council Pests, partnerships and people power in the Western Downs In delivery
    Southern Gulf NRM Prickly acacia management on Lawn Hill, Punjaub and Neumayer Valley Stations to stop the spread and reduce the density Completed
    Balonne Shire Council Maranoa-Balonne: targeted monitoring, aerial baiting and trapping program for inaccessible areas In delivery
    McKinlay Shire Council McKinlay mesquite common area eradication program In delivery
    Cassowary Coast Regional Council Koster's curse (Clidemia hirta) Completed
    Southern Downs Regional Council Strategic cross border wild dog control and landholder capacity building Completed
    Longreach Regional Council Snake cactus control project In delivery
    Southern Queensland NRM (formerly South West NRM) Collaborative Area Management Phase 3 Completed
    Hinchinbrook Shire Council Effective management of coastal feral pig population in the Hinchinbrook Shire Completed

  • Round 2.2

    Funding of $1.9 million was allocated in 2018 to support Local Governments in regional areas to capacity build with the aim of increasing and improving landholders' pest management activities through support and mentoring.

    Organisation Project nameStatus*
    RAPAD QLD wild dog control coordinators project In delivery
    Southern Downs Regional Council SDRC Invasive Pests Control Scheme - a model for Queensland local government In delivery
    Barcoo Shire Council Capacity building of Barcoo Shire landowners to meeting biosecurity obligations In delivery
    Winton Shire Council Capacity building of Winton Shire Council landowners to improve biosecurity obligations and responsibilities including wild dog management In delivery
    Maranoa Regional Council Pests without borders In delivery
    Barcaldine Regional Council Barcaldine Regional Council - Good Neighbour Program In delivery
    Bulloo Shire Council Bulloo Shire biosecurity enhancement project In delivery

  • Round 3

    Funding of $7 million was allocated in 2019 for invasive plant and animal projects, including wild dog cluster fencing, wild pig and invasive plant control projects. This also contributed to the construction of approximately 2,000 kilometres of cluster fencing in priority sheep growing areas within Queensland.

    Organisation Project nameStatus*
    RAPAD Central Western Queensland Round 3 cluster fencing program In delivery
    Fitzroy Basin Association Dawson and Isaac Catchment integrated pest control (DICIPC) In delivery
    Western Downs Regional Council Utilising all tools in the toolbox for wild dogs in the Western Downs Regional Council In delivery
    Maranoa Regional Council Maranoa Collaborative Area Management Project - Stage 3 Early implementation
    Goondiwindi Regional Council Goondiwindi Regional Council Stage 3 Cluster Fencing project In delivery
    Southern Gulf NRM Flinders River Catchment prickly acacia eradication program In delivery
    Whitsunday Regional Council Increasing local government capacity in feral animal control programs in the Whitsunday Region and to improve economic and environmental outcomes In delivery
    Southern Downs Regional Council Building a sustainable sheep and wool industry through exclusion fencing in the Southern Downs Early implementation
    Southern Queensland NRM QFPI Round 3 - Southern Queensland NRM In delivery

  • Round 4

    Funding of $1 million was allocated in 2020 for invasive plant and animal control projects, including wild dog, European fox, yellow crazy ants, capacity building and invasive plant and control projects.

    Organisation

    Project Name

    Status*

    Bulloo Shire Council

    Bulloo Shire Invasive Animal Management Project

    Early Implementation

    Southern Queensland NRM

    QFPI Round 4 - SQL Hudson Pear

    Early Implementation

    Fitzroy Basin Association

    Fitzroy Basin Coordinated Action for Pest Control

    Early Implementation

    Gladstone Regional Council

    Central Queensland Fox Control

    Early Implementation

    Goondiwindi Regional Council

    Coordinated Cactus Control

    Early Implementation

    Whitsunday Regional Council

    Whitsunday Yellow Crazy Any Baiting and Surveillance Program

    Early Implementation

    Wide-Bay Burnett Regional Organisations of Council

    Halting the march down the Burnett – A cross-jurisdictional approach for the management of rubber vine and hymenachne in the Burnett catchment

    Early Implementation

*Status

  • Early implementation: the project is being rolled out and whilst some on-ground works may have started, others are still being developed
  • In delivery: all on-ground works and project activities are in full delivery
  • Complete: the final project report has been submitted and finalised

Last updated: 21 Sep 2020