Massive 320,000 homes in fruit-fly quarantine area as battle against the pest heats up
An interstate visitor found out there can be major consequences of bringing fruit into SA this week, as the battle against fruit-fly heats up.
SA Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Millions of flies set to blitz outbreak
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Horticultural leaders are calling on Adelaide homeowners to help protect the $1.2 billion industry, with the current fruit fly quarantine area now covering more than 320,000 residences.
Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) is leading its biggest ever response to fruit fly outbreaks.
Since the pests were first detected in the Blair Athol area in December, PIRSA has collected almost 32,000 tonnes of fruit from properties across Adelaide.
There have since been a further six outbreaks – at Croydon, Angle Park, Rosewater, Semaphore Park, Campbelltown and Pooraka.
As part of the battle against the pest, PIRSA has deployed almost 2700 fruit fly traps across Adelaide, applied 95,795 litres of organic bait and released 19 million sterile fruit flies.
But Summerfruit SA executive officer Tim Grieger said some of the most important tools in the fight against the pest were simple steps residents could take, including ensuring any fruit on the ground was picked up and put in green bins.
“It not only protects our industry but also home gardeners,” Mr Grieger said.
Horticultural Coalition of SA chairman Angelo Demasi said just one piece of maggot- infested fruit could devastate the industry.
“It is important that the community play their part to protect our state from dreadful impacts of fruit fly and be aware of regulations for home gardens and border controls,” Mr Demasi said.
Apple & Pear Growers Association of SA chief executive Susie Green said in some areas interstate, the public was being encouraged to remove fruit trees from their gardens because of the threat of fruit fly.
“This is not a pest that any of us want and we are already seeing the significant impact on thousands of households in metropolitan Adelaide caused by infested fruit being brought into the state,” Ms Green said.
MORE NEWS
It’s good news as foot traffic makes a return to newsagencies
Barley tariff hits SA farmers hard
The industry plea comes as an interstate traveller this week learnt the hard way that it does not pay to bring prohibited fruit into South Australia.
The 44-year-old, from Griffith, in NSW, had challenged an expiation notice issued for breaking the state’s strict biosecurity laws.
The woman was found guilty in the Magistrates Court of bringing lemons into SA in contravention of the Plant Health Act. Biosecurity officials had seized the lemons at the Yamba Quarantine Station in the Riverland. The woman was ordered to pay fines and court costs of $796.