TASMANIAN residents living outside the Northern Tasmanian and Furneaux control areas do not need to double bag fruit fly host produce anymore.
Create a free account to read this article
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is also safe to compost host produce if you live outside the control areas, a Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment department spokesperson said.
Double-bagging restrictions for host produce still remain for those within the control areas.
“While inside a control area, please ensure all rotten, fallen or remains of host produce is double-bagged in sealed plastic bags prior to placing in general waste,” the spokesperson said.
RELATED READING
“It is recommended that host produce should not be composted at home or disposed of in green waste as fruit fly larvae can survive the composting process.”
The spokesperson said landholders and councils located within these two zones had played a significant role in Tasmania’s fruit fly eradication efforts and “we thank them for their ongoing support”.
“Around 2500 properties in the Northern Tasmanian control area are cooperating with DPIPWE in the fruit fly eradication program.”
“Local councils are also assisting, particularly with waste management activities,” the spokesperson said.
There have been no further fruit fly detections in the two Tasmanian control areas.
In addition, there were also no further detections at Mowbray since a single male adult Queensland fruit fly was discovered in the Launceston suburb earlier this month.
No evidence of larval infestation has been found at Mowbray either.
“Approximately 40 fruit fly traps have been established in the surrounding area and all fruit trees and other host plants have been inspected on more than 100 properties in the immediate vicinity,” the spokesperson said.
Inspections include examining all fruit on trees for evidence of infestation and cutting up fruit from the tree and the ground to determine if any larvae are present.
The traps will be inspected for nine weeks after the initial detection.
Visit dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fruitfly for more information and report suspect produce to 6165 3774.
- This story first appeared on The Advocate.