Watch the extended version of the Come In Clean video.
You can help protect Tasmania from pests, weeds and diseases by thoroughly cleaning your clothes, gear, vehicles and equipment before travelling to Tasmania.
If you don't, you may be posing a risk to Tasmania's biosecurity without knowing it! These potential contaminants, such as dirt, seeds or disease, could be lurking on the bottom of your shoes, or in the mud caked on your car, caravan, trailer, ute or farm machinery.
The threat posed to Australia from foot-and-mouth disease is a timely reminder to ensure that when you return from places like Indonesia/Bali, that you remember to COME IN CLEAN.
Clean your recreational equipment
Recreational equipment like mountain bikes, fishing or golfing gear can carry contaminants that could impact Tasmania's environment, primary industries, economy and our way of life.
Before visiting, or returning to Tasmania make sure you thoroughly
Check,
Clean and
Dry your recreational gear. By cleaning your camping and walking gear, you can help prevent the introduction and spread of diseases like
Phytophthora root rot.
If you planning to visit one of Tasmania's many public parks and reserves, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service website has lots of useful information. Good biosecurity practices when bushwalking are central to protecting our unique environment - find out more about what you can do before heading out on the track.
Clean your vehicle
When returning to, or visiting Tasmania be sure to thoroughly clean your vehicle. ALL vehicles must be free of visible dirt and mud BEFORE embarking on the Spirit of Tasmania at Geelong. Your vehicle will be inspected at the Geelong terminal, and may also be inspected at the Devonport terminal on your arrival into Tasmania.
Find out more about travelling to Tasmania aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
Clean your boat
When returning to Tasmania or moving between waterways be sure to thoroughly
CHECK, CLEAN, DRAIN and
DRY your boat, trailer and gear after each boating trip.
Thoroughly examine different areas of your boat for signs of aquatic plants, organisms, remaining water or sediment, and flush out the motors with fresh water. Key areas include the anchor well and anchor (including ropes and chains), deck fittings, hull surface, water inlets/outlets, propeller, bilges, trailer, burley buckets, and sonar tubes/echosounder booths and transducers.
The webpage
Protecting Against Aquatic Pests has further information about cleaning your boat and gear.
For more information on good hygiene, download the ‘Keeping it clean - A Tasmanian field hygiene manual’.
Slip and clean any non-trailered vessels or those submerged in water for long periods of time at least once a year or anytime there is a build-up of fouling. Treat any sewage systems regularly and dispose of sewage and bilge water at an approved pump out facility. Find out more on the
Marine and Safety Tasmania website.
Clean your farm equipment
People, vehicles and equipment pose a high biosecurity risk and should be managed accordingly.
Here are some basic actions you can take to help prevent the introduction and spread of pests, weeds and diseases onto your property:
- keep an up-to-date equipment and vehicle cleaning record
- clean machinery from the top down and dismantle it as far as possible to gain access to internal spaces
- clean and disinfect all borrowed or second-hand machinery before using it on your property
- follow any wash down with a broad-spectrum disinfectant. This will further reduce the risk of introducing less visible threats like bacteria, viruses, and spores onto your property.
This video produced by Farm Biosecurity covers the basics of cleaning vehicles and farm equipment.
Carrying a basic, personal biosecurity kit is a good way of decontaminating vehicles, clothing and equipment.
These Farm Biosecurity links provide imprtant information about footbaths:
Clean your livestock transport vehicles
When transporting livestock ensure that your clothes, vehicles and equipment are clean and free of soil and plant material (such as weed seeds) prior to arriving at a property or moving between properties.
When you leave the property – make sure your vehicle and equipment are cleaned (if on-site facilities are available) or at a minimum ensure you clean down your vehicle and equipment before entering the next property.
If you are not using an established truck washdown facility be careful to not let any potential contaminants drain into production areas and facilities.
This video, produced by Agriculture Victoria, has some very useful information to consider when cleaning livestock transport vehicles.
Know your general biosecurity duty
Hypothetical example of how you can meet your GBD:
More Information
Find out more about the Biosecurity Basics