We’ve put together this full guide to help simplify the requirements related to vehicle Weed and Seed Washes in Queensland.
FleetCrew is able to provide copies of compliance paperwork, upon request, for all our FleetCrew hire vehicles. Please request this paperwork at the time of making the booking as we will need to know which site or sites you intend on visiting. Please also note we are able to provide Weed and Seed Washes in Queensland for our customers own fleet. Call us today for a quote.
This guide was created primarily for use as a reference only and we encourage you to check the local and state requirements for your destination.
Vehicle Weed & Seed Washes in Queensland
If you own or operate a vehicle in Queensland, you must make sure that it is free of any declared plant species and their reproductive materials.
In addition to providing advice and best practice principles for pest management, the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 ensures appropriate regulations are enforced to reduce and prevent the spread of declared plant species.
Depending on your destination, you will require either a Weed Hygiene Declaration or a Vehicle Hygiene Inspection Report – in some cases you might need both. Our onsite trained and certified personnel can perform, inspect, and sign off on these reports.
When entering a property, you may be requested to provide record of the vehicles Weed & Seed Wash history (Weed Hygiene Declaration), or else be refused entry.
It is an offence (under Section 270 of the act) to disobey any directions given by an authorised person (as defined by the act) who directs you to stop your vehicle.
In other words: fines apply for non-compliance.
Vehicle clean-down procedures are a major component of this 197 page piece of legislation. Failure to comply with certain protocol could see you receive penalties of up to $20,000. This is why it’s so important to be up to date about the processes and requirements for Weed & Seed Washes.
In Queensland alone, weeds account for more than $600 million dollars in lost productivity, land degradation, and control. The agricultural and tourism industries are in a constant battle to manage the challenging issues that invasive plants represent. Poorly cleaned vehicles are often to blame for spreading these plants.
This issue isn’t taken lightly, and fleetcrew are serious about following regulations, protecting the environment, and helping you stay out of trouble by doing the right thing.
Do you need a Weed Hygiene Declaration or a Vehicle Hygiene Inspection Report?
This depends on where you intend to travel.
Most often, you will only need a declaration. This can be completed by anyone who is either the seller, supplier or the driver, just as long as they have direct knowledge of the steps taken to clean the vehicle. These declarations can be supplied upon request. Please note these will need to be requested prior to pick up.
Certain worksites will also require you to complete a Vehicle Hygiene Inspection Report. This can only be provided by a trained and certified inspector. You will need to contact every worksite you intend on visiting to confirm their own requirements, before your travel. We have the paperwork for QGC and Origin sites however if your site has specific paperwork we can complete this as well when forwarded to us prior to pick up.
Fleetcrew have onsite personnel who can inspect, perform, and sign declarations and hygiene inspections for all vehicles, including your own personal vehicle (bookings essential).
A Weed & Seed Wash should be performed by a trained and registered professional.
Training modules are supplied by the state government and all fleetcrew staff who are certified to perform a Weed & Seed Wash have completed the “AHCBIO201A – Inspect and clean machinery for plant, animal and soil material” course (or equivalent).
Fleetcrew’s seed and wash bays in Brisbane, Mount Isa, Mackay and Dysart are fully equipped to comply with state regulations and our own staff comprehensively clean and inspect all of our vehicles before they leave the depot. Please note weed and seed washes must be requested at the time of making the booking.
There are Weed & Seed Wash bays that are open to the public. These are maintained by the local council of that area.
To find out more about these, including where to find them and their opening hours, please speak with the local council for more information.
To be declared and certified, the following areas of the vehicle must be cleaned and inspected. A full checklist is available for download in the resources section below:
The precise requirements will depend on the type of vehicle. The rule of thumb is: everywhere and everything. If it’s not hermetically sealed, it needs to be done.
A vehicle is not considered clean until it has had all organic matter removed. This includes all dirt and soil, plant, and animal matter.
Declared species, the broad-leaved pepper tree
A vehicle will continue to be considered clean if it remains on sealed roads. If travelling on unsealed roads, these roads must be in good condition and regularly maintained.
As soon as a vehicle enters an area where weeds may be present, the owner/driver must ensure all reasonable steps are taken to clean the vehicle.
Some worksites will consider a vehicle no longer clean after a set period of time.
Complying with Weed & Seed Wash requirements is a relatively straightforward affair. Once you understand how to comply, and perhaps more importantly why, you should avoid any major problems.
Remember the following:
Speak with the team at FleetCrew if you have any questions, or check out the resources listed below.
If you have an enquiry or would like more information then please fill in the enquiry form and we will get back to you asap during business hours.
If you are seeking a quote for a particular vehicle/s, please visit our Get A Quote page or if want to further information, please visit our FAQs page.
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