The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has intensified its campaign to stamp out Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) in Perth’s western suburbs.
A Quarantine Area Notice, which has been in place since early April, has been renewed and extended to include areas north of the Stirling Highway, following recent detections of the serious agricultural pest close to the previous Quarantine Area’s boundary.
The Department said the extension of about 900 hectares includes areas in the north of Claremont and Nedlands, as well as parts of Crawley, Mount Claremont, Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove and Shenton Park.
It said it was in addition to the original 1,100-hectare Quarantine Area across Dalkeith and parts of Nedlands and Claremont.
Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer at the Department, Sonya Broughton said the directions remained the same as the previous Quarantine Area Notice.
“It prohibits the movement of home-grown Qfly host fruit, including some fruiting vegetables, from the Quarantine Area and requirements for the regular removal and treatment of ripe and ripening Qfly host fruit,” Dr Broughton said.
“Qfly is a damaging pest, which if it were to become established in Western Australia, would severely impact the State’s horticultural industries, growers’ businesses and access to markets for fruit and fruiting vegetables.”
She said the eradication campaign had made great progress since it began three months ago.
“The response had recently been boosted by additional personnel to meet the demands of weekly activities, with more than 170 personnel now inspecting properties, checking Qfly traps and placing organic baits,” Dr Broughton said.
“Department personnel have visited more than 3,690 premises since the campaign began, which is a significant undertaking,” she said.
