Qld fruit fly outbreaks detected in Western Australian cities of Bayswater and Belmont

An extensive eradication campaign is underway, including inspections and baiting with a registered organic control, on street trees and trees on residential and commercial properties.

Qfly is considered one of the world's worst pests, attacking more than 300 fruits, fruiting vegetables and fruiting plants, as well as home gardens.

The government has established a quarantine area for parts of the cities to support efforts to eradicate the pests, requiring residents and businesses to take action.

The move comes after recent detections of the damaging pest in Bayswater by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD's) early detection surveillance trapping grid.

The quarantine area has a small Corrective Action Zone covering a 1.5 kilometre radius around the detection point near the intersection of Frinton and Roberts Streets.

Home grown fruit and fruiting vegetables, like tomatoes, chillies and capsicums, cannot be moved out of or within the Corrective Action Zone, unless cooked, frozen or solarised.

Unwanted fruits and fruiting vegetables can be treated by cooking, freezing or solarising before being disposed of in general waste bins.

Ripe or ripening fruit and fruiting vegetables from home gardens must be picked regularly and all fallen fruit removed every three days and cannot be moved within or outside the zone unless treated.

The outbreak comes as South Australia also struggles to bring Qfly under control with more than 20 detections within the Riverland area in recent months, the highest number recorded for many years.

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To date there have been no Qfly detections in the South Australian outer metropolitan horticulture production districts.

The Swan Valley is included in a broader buffer zone requiring growers to follow movement directions for produce.

The DPIRD is working with Swan Valley growers, providing advice on the movement and treatment of commercial fruit within, out of, and through the quarantine area.

The DPIRD has reminded residents it was important homegrown fruits and vegetables were not disposed of without prior treatment, as this risks spreading Qfly outside of the current zone.

WA chief plant biosecurity officer Sonya Broughton said the quarantine area was required for an efficient and effective biosecurity response and called on the community for support.

"It's important we all play our part to aid a swift response and prevent Qfly from further impacting our valuable horticulture industries," Dr Broughton said.

"Working together - industry, government and community - and adhering to the quarantine area directions gives us the best chance of eradicating this pest, which could impact growers' livelihoods and access to valuable markets."

WA has eradicated the pest eight times in the past 40 years, most recently in the western and southern suburbs in 2020 and 2021.

For a map, information on movement, treatment and disposal requirements and to stay up to date with the Qfly biosecurity response visit the DPIRD website.

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