Check, clean and dry your recreational equipment
Whether you are travelling to Tasmania from interstate, entering the state from overseas (such as New Zealand travellers), or moving from one area of Tasmania to another – making sure that you CHECK, CLEAN and DRY your recreational equipment is incredibly important in helping to protect the Tasmanian environment, economy and primary industries from the harmful impacts of pests, weeds, and diseases.
Aquatic and terrestrial pests and diseases, and weed seeds can be easily spread by wet, unclean, and contaminated equipment.
However, if you CHECK, CLEAN and DRY your equipment the risk of transporting these biosecurity threats can be minimised. You will also have helped to meet your General Biosecurity Duty obligations.
Examples of equipment that might be carrying biosecurity threats include (but are not limited to):
- Vehicles including 4x4s, motorbikes or quad bikes, and boats/jet skis
- Water sport equipment – surfboards, water skis, kayaks, diving gear
- 4×4 driving equipment and accessories
- Fishing gear and equipment including fishing reels and waders (especially felt-soled waders – avoid using these if possible!)
- Sporting equipment such as golf clubs and carts/caddies, and shoes with studs on the sole
- Hiking gear including boots, backpacks, ropes, and clothing
Tasmania has world-class wilderness and recreational areas that offer amazing adventure and sporting opportunities. So before embarking on your next Tasmanian adventure or before returning home, remember to CHECK, CLEAN and DRY your recreational equipment and be ready to present your equipment to one of our Biosecurity officers for inspection on arrival into Tasmania.
For more information, visit www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity, call 03 6165 3777, or email Biosecurity.Tasmania@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Get to know your General Biosecurity Duty. Visit the website to learn more about how you can meet your General Biosecurity Duty, and help protect Tasmania from biosecurity threats.
Acknowledgement: reproduced from Biosecurity Advisory 13/2021 from Biosecurity Tasmania