Land Use

Agricultural Lands

The "Soils and Agricultural Suitability of The Wet Tropical Coast Project" has categorised land in the Shire as: arable land 15% slope and less; limited arable land 15-20% slope; limited arable land subject to flooding; pastoral land suitable for improved pasture mainly 20-30% slope; non agricultural land; and unclassified land.

The project found that limitations for agriculture in the Shire were climate, water availability, soil nutrient supply, salinity, wetness, flooding, landscape complexity, soil condition, topography, rockiness and water erosion.

Soil Erosion

A project titled "Nature and magnitude of soil erosion in sugarcane land on the wet tropical coast of north-eastern Queensland" found that there was a significant difference in soil erosion between cane crops conventionally cultivated and those where no-tillage practices were applied. No tillage practices reduced erosion from 148t/ha.year to <15t/ha.year.

Pest Management

Council adopted a 3 year Integrated Pest Management Strategy in 1998. This plan addresses inspections, enforcement of legislation, education, consultation, and resource allocation.

The main weeds of concern in the Shire are Cabomba, Giant Bramble, Giant Sensitive Plant, Mikania Vine, Milkweed, Salvinia, Siam Weed, Sicklepod, Thunbergia, Tobacco Weed, Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, Hymenachne, Pond Apple, Harungana, Bamboo, African Tulip, and Yellow Allamanda. Feral animals of concern include wild dogs, rabbits, cats, deer, pigs, locusts and foxes.

Eleven landholders have joined Council's Hymenachne Control Incentive Program 2000/01 and an estimated 34.5 hectares of Hymenachne will be treated.

The Shire has advanced under the pest management program from originally spraying only Giant Sensitive Plant on all lands to a full pest management program. Importantly Shire landholders have now taken responsibility for control of the weeds on their own properties.