Qld fruit fly detection at Renmark pushes restrictions to May 6, 2022

This is not a new outbreak, and the current fruit fly outbreak boundaries remain the same.

Premier Steven Marshall said he was concerned about the new identification of fruit fly in the Riverland.

"We thought this was behind us," he said.

"Obviously we are going to put all efforts now into making sure we can control this as quickly as possible.

"Having that pest free area status for SA is extraordinarily important in terms of our exports.

"It is very small at this stage but we have to make sure we get onto it and wipe it out as quickly as possible."

Fruit fly response general manager Nick Secomb said the single fruit fly detection was disappointing, and the PIRSA will continue its eradication program to protect the Riverland pest free area.

RELATED READING

"Summer months typically see an increase in fruit fly detections due to the warmer weather," Mr Secomb said.

"PIRSA successfully eradicated Qld fruit fly from Berri, Monash and Cooltong in December, and the Riverland eradication program currently underway will now be extended to address this detection, including sterile fly releases.

"Residents in the area will soon receive a flyer to advise of this latest detection and what they need to do.

"If you live near the detection site, you may also be visited by our fruit fly officers in orange overalls to check your fruit for signs of fruit fly.

"Special arrangements for the movement of commercial produce will continue, and now we are approaching citrus season, unfortunately the May 6 end-date will impact citrus growers in the affected area.

"Thank you to residents and growers for your patience and assistance during these outbreaks."

Citrus SA chair Mark Doecke said the detection of fruit fly was frustrating and costing the industry as a whole.

"We just have to plan as if it's going to keep going," he said.

"We don't know if we're going to be out of it on May 6 - if they don't find more flies, we will be out of it - but if they do find flies, you have to have contingency plans in place to deal with it again.

"It costs growers a fair bit of money to get fruit out of those areas, it might be only one or two growers, but we all pay.

"Because a package shed ... spreads the costs over all of us. We all as an industry cop it and it costs us."

He said they don't want unattended backyard fruit trees and that is where all the problems have come from in the last 18 months.

"We are trying to arrange funding for the council or PIRSA to replace unwanted fruit trees with a native trees," he said.

"We have to keep calling on residents to be alert, and report and don't have unattended trees dropping fruit on the ground.

"If you don't want your tree, get rid of it."

PIRSA is available to support market access arrangements for growers during this time.

Call the industry hotline on 1800 255 556.

Sign up here to Good Fruit and Vegetables weekly newsletter for all the latest horticulture news each Thursday...