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In Queensland, you need to have a licence to spray herbicides with powered equipment on land you do not own or occupy. Moreover, under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011, anyone who uses hazardous chemicals must have the relevant training. See below for more information:
Commercial Operator’s Licence
In Queensland, the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAF) administers the Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control Act 1966. The ACDC Act controls ground distribution (spraying, spreading, or dispersing) of herbicides from ground equipment and aerial distribution (spraying, spreading, or dispersing) of agricultural chemicals from aircraft.
Persons who wish to operate ground equipment to carry out ground distribution of herbicides onto land that they or their relatives do not own or occupy must be licensed commercial operators holding a commercial operator’s licence issued under the ACDC Act to do so. In many local authorities of Queensland, particularly those in western regions, the provisions of the ACDC Act do not apply. Many individuals however in these areas still hold a Commercial Operator License because of Workplace Health & Safety and public liability issues.
Licensing applies when the following ground equipment is used:
A. in areas of Queensland not declared a Hazardous Area – Ground equipment (such as engine driven or motorised) but NOT equipment that is powered by hand or by compressed air or gas applied directly to the spray liquid for distribution without the use of air blast techniques; nor a hose proportioning device.
B. in a declared Hazardous Area – Any item of ground equipment, including engine driven, motorised or hand powered ground equipment.
YOU NO LONGER NEED THREE UNITS TO APPLY FOR YOUR COMMERCIAL OPERATORS LICENCE. OUR CHEMICAL COURSE COVERS THE TWO UNITS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A COMMERCIAL OPERATOR’S LICENCE IN QUEENSLAND
Hazardous Zones
Hazardous Zone 1 – This area consists of the Cities of Caloundra and Redcliffe and the former Shires of Caboolture, Maroochy, Noosa, and Pine Rivers.
Hazardous Zone 2 – This area consists of the City of Toowoomba, the Town of Dalby and the former Shires of Cambooya, Clifton, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Pittsworth, Rosalie, Wambo and Warwick.
Hazardous Zone 3 – This area consists of the former Shires of Bauhinia, Belyando, Duaringa, Emerald and Peak Downs, and the part of the Broadsound Shire (west of the top of the Broadsound and Connors Range).
Helpful Links
Further information can be obtained from: http://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/agriculture/land-management/chemical-controls/ground-distribution-of-herbicides
To apply for your Commercial Operator’s Licence, click here: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/land-management/chemical-controls/commercial-operators/applying
To read the Agricultural Chemical User’s Manual, click here: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/54738/agricultural-chemical-users-manual.pdf