Regional Pest Management Group

The cost to communities — especially in rural areas — from feral pests and weeds is enormous.

In 2025, the estimated bill came in at more than $600m in Queensland.

The Burdekin Dry Tropics Regional Pest Management Group (RPMG) exists to try to reduce that problem.

It leads a broad range of biosecurity activities, including strategic pest management planning, coordination of control activities, sharing resources and promotion of best management practice through its extensive network. 

Since its formation in 2008, NQ Dry Tropics has facilitated and supported the group filling leadership (Chair) and coordination (Secretary) roles.

The group comprises representatives from each of the seven Local Government Areas in the Burdekin Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management area and NQ Dry Tropics representatives.

Secretary of the group, NQ Dry Tropics Project Officer Tanya Magor said collaboration meant the control effort across the region,against pigs, particularly, could be magnified by sharing knowledge, co-ordinating control efforts and sharing costs.

“Weeds and feral pests know no borders, so it’s important for councils and properties to share knowledge about the prevalence and location of target species so the job isn’t half done by stopping at a boundary,” she said.

The councils on the RPMG are: Barcaldine Regional Council; Burdekin Shire Council, Charters Towers Regional Council, Isaac Regional Council, Whitsunday Regional Council and the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council.

NQ Dry Tropics Senior Project Officer Living Landscapes Georgia Robinson is the RPMG Chair.

The RPMG developed a Regional Strategic Collaboration Plan 2025-2031 based around four key themes:

• addressing biosecurity priorities;
• collaborative capacity building;
• co-operative stakeholder relationshps; and
• effective governance.