Western Australia has declared itself free from Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) thanks to eight months of eradication in southern Perth.
The state government says Qfly was first detected in the Willagee and Palmyra areas last November during routine monitoring of traps.
More than 12,000 properties were subsequently visited, over 10,500 lures deployed and almost 600 samples of fruit tested in a 15-kilometre quarantine around the initial detection point at Willagee.
WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis acknowledged the efforts made by residents in the southern suburbs and by Perth Markets who were slapped with quarantine restrictions to ensure a quick eradication.
“This is the 10th time Qfly was successfully eradicated from the Perth metropolitan area since the 1980s,” she says.
“It comes just in time for National Biosecurity Week and is a testament to the importance of our entire community working together to protect our state’s biosecurity.”
She says reports of any unusual animal or plant pests can be made via the MyPestGuide Reporter app.
“The quicker we identify a pest or disease the better chance we have of containing and eradicating it,” she says.
Residents and 22 local governments regularly stripped and disposed of home-grown fruit and contained fruit or plant material within the quarantine area.
With the quarantine notice lifted, residents and businesses are no longer subject to control on fruit and vegetable movements.
THREAT TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The fruit fly is one of the biggest threats to Western Australia’s $1.49 billion horticultural industries and backyard fruit trees.
The pest attacks more than 300 species of fruit and fruiting vegetables including avocados, chilli, tomato and capsicum.
If Qfly establishes itself in WA, it could cost exporters access to horticultural markets and severely impact home-grown fruit and vegetables. Source: WA Government
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