Frank Martinek

New mentorship role to minimise biosecurity risks from invasive pests

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Communities within the Goondiwindi region will receive support in minimising the biosecurity risk to livestock from invasive plants and animals as part of a new project.

The Pests Without Borders project is a joint initiative between Maranoa Regional Council, Goondiwindi Regional Council and Balonne Shire Council to better support landholders with pest management.

The aim of the three-year project is to work with landholders across these areas to coordinate and facilitate workshops or field days to help fill identified knowledge gaps, along with encouraging participation in coordinated control programs.

Newly appointed project officer Frank Martinek will be leading the project in a mentorship role.

Having spent the majority of his life working in regional Queensland in rural-based industries, Mr Martinek will now be based in Roma with the Maranoa Regional Council.

The project will have a particular focus on the southeast corner of the Maranoa Region, northwest corner of the Goondiwindi region and the northeast area of the Balonne Shire. Mr Martinek’s role will include communicating with landholders to help clarify when and where each area meets for invasive plant and animal coordinated control programs.

The primary focus will be landholders who live in these local government areas but who have social and business dealings outside of their local government area.

Mr Martinek will be communicating with residents by landholder surveys, stakeholder workshops, and through individual meetings and consultations. It is anticipated that during the life of the project Mr Martinek will contact or interview all individual landholders in the target area.

The Pests Without Borders project is funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments as part of the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative.

 

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For more information, please contact:

Councillor Graeme Scheu

Mayor

Goondiwindi Regional Council

Mobile: 0427 718 877

Email: mayor@grc.qld.gov.au

13th June 2019 at 12:00 AM