South Australians in Loxton and Pike River West are being urged by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) to do the right thing as it declares two new Queensland fruit fly outbreak areas.
General Manager of the Fruit Fly Response at PIRSA, Nick Secomb said restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables at risk from fruit fly were now in place with PIRSA staff visiting affected properties.
Mr Secomb urged every resident living within the red outbreak area to ‘do the right thing’ and support the eradication program.
“If you are in a red outbreak area, please keep your fruit and vegetables on your property and don’t share, sell or give them away,” Mr Secomb said.
“Search your address on the map on the fruit fly website to check if you’re in a red outbreak area,” he said.
“Our teams in orange overalls are contacting residents with information about what to do now they are in a red outbreak area, and will be regularly applying organic bait to suitable foliage in properties as well as checking fruit for signs of fruit fly.”
He said that if you’re in the affected area you should promptly pick from your garden any ripe fruit and vegetables that are at risk from fruit fly including apples, pears, limes, strawberries and stone fruit.
“These actions are an essential tactic,” Mr Secomb said.
He said restrictions would remain in place until 22 November as long as there were no further fruit fly detections.
The Industry Hotline of 1800 255 556 is available for further advice and support and people in the Loxton red outbreak area could put fallen garden fruit in a sealed bag and call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010 to arrange collection.
“Don’t compost it, and don’t put in a bin,” Mr Secomb said.
PIRSA’s fruit fly website, including an outbreak map, can be accessed at this PS News link and its Family and Business Support Program for affected primary producers at this link.
