Riverland cops another fruit fly outbreak

An outbreak of Queensland fruit fly has been declared at Lindsay Point in Victoria, just across the border from Renmark, only three weeks after quarantine restrictions for an outbreak in Loxton were lifted.

An outbreak of Queensland fruit fly has been declared at Lindsay Point in Victoria, just across the border from Renmark.

It comes only three weeks after quarantine restrictions for a Queensland fruit fly outbreak in Loxton were lifted.

PIRSA/Biosecurity SA is working with Agriculture Victoria, with movement controls on produce in place and a suspension area around Lindsay Point.

The detection is near the junction of the South Australian, Victorian and New South Wales borders and is part of the SA Riverland Pest Free Area.

PIRSA Biosecurity SA will lead the response in close co-operation with colleagues from Agriculture Victoria and leading an eradication program aimed at eliminating any fruit flies from the outbreak area and nearby surrounds as soon as possible.

Residents and businesses within the outbreak area will be receiving information from Biosecurity SA and their relevant state authority about the outbreak and associated quarantine, detailing what part they can play in preventing its spread.

PIRSA Biosecurity SA is liaising closely with the Riverland horticulture industry on the outbreak response, particularly in regards to the movement of produce and quarantine restrictions.

A dedicated phone number — 1800 255 556 — has been established for industry queries.

An organic bait spotting program will be undertaken with the response also concentrating on the removal of fallen fruit from properties within the affected outbreak zone area.

Queensland fruit fly doesn’t exist in South Australia and can only be brought into the state from infested fruit originating from the eastern states.

However this is an unusual response as the outbreak and part of the suspension area are in the Victorian part of the Riverland PFA.

This has no impact on the fruit fly free status for the rest of the Riverland PFA or for the rest of the state and PIRSA are liaising with the broader horticultural industry, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Agriculture Victoria and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries on the outbreak and the eradication campaign.

Residents and businesses inside the quarantine area can help eliminate fruit fly by practising measures including:

DO not give away or move any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including tomatoes, capsicums, chillies and eggplants unless cooked or preserved

DO not leave fruit or fruiting vegetables lying on the ground

DO not compost any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including those purchased from a shop

DO place all unwanted fruit and vegetables in your green bin for normal collection

DO report any maggots found in fruit or fruiting vegetables immediately to the Fruit Fly

Hotline on 1300 666 010

At this stage, if no further wild flies or larvae are detected it is anticipated that the quarantine in the quarantine zone surrounding Lindsay Point will remain in place until at least December 22.