RFQ re Warrnambool Pest Plant & Animal Framework

⁠⁠⁠Warrnambool City Council is seeking quotations for a suitably qualified and experienced consultant to prepare a Pest Plant & Animal Framework for the Warrnambool Municipality.

The Pest Plant and Animal Framework will outline steps to secure the municipality’s biosecurity and guide future policy, planning and community activity in relation to pest plant and animals. The framework would take a risk management approach and be based around the following four actions:

• Prevention and Preparedness
• Eradication
• Containment
• Asset Based Protection

The framework will have a focus on weeds and pest animals. Other invasive pests such as marine plants, marine algae, marine invertebrates, marine fish, freshwater fish, freshwater invertebrates and terrestrial invertebrates are outside the scope of this document and are commonly dealt with at a state government level.

General issues and considerations that should be addressed through the project are summarised as follows:

• Current council management plans and strategies that consider pest plant and animals
• Any current frameworks, plans or strategies at Catchment Management Authority, State and National Level
• Current taskforces and programs dealing with problem pest plants and animals
• Any relevant policy or legislations such as the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
• Identify community groups and key stakeholders to partner on implementation
• How to engage with local industry, nurseries and pet stores
• Assess issues of animal welfare, protection of native species and communities, cultural heritage, climate change and globalisation effects
• Identify opportunities for partnership with Traditional Owners in the management of pest plant and animal

The framework will take into account both areas managed by Warrnambool City Council and private landholders within the municipality.