RIVERLAND residents are being reminded to check their home-grown fruit and keep backyard fruit trees tidy, as two new fruit fly outbreaks are declared in the Riverland.
More than 460 biosecurity staff are responding to fruit fly outbreaks across SA, with further resources being deployed to the Riverland after two new detections at Berri and Pike River.
A Qld fruit fly outbreak has been declared in Berri after maggots were found in a resident's home-grown fruit, while larvae was also discovered in a commercial consignment and traced back to Pike River.
Department of Primary Industries and Regions Biosecurity SA executive director Nathan Rhodes said significant resources have been committed to eradicating fruit fly from the Riverland.
"Immediate eradication activities are underway in the outbreak areas in Berri and at Pike River, including organic baiting and fruit checking, with additional staff assisting in a bid to get on top of these new outbreaks," he said.
"More than 61,000 kilograms of fruit has been collected across the Renmark West, Monash and Cooltong outbreak areas since commencement of fruit fly response efforts in the Riverland, mostly from backyard fruit trees.
"In the Renmark West, Cooltong and Monash outbreak and suspension areas there are almost 8000 residences, so it is critical we ask people to check their backyard fruit trees and vegetable gardens and do not move produce off their property.
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"Keep your gardens tidy - pick up fallen fruit, and pick ripe produce promptly so fruit fly cannot sting it - and if you suspect you have fruit fly infested produce, call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
"The Department is working closely with affected producers so they can continue to meet export requirements for their produce and I must reiterate the Riverland's fruit fly free status remains in areas outside of the outbreaks.
"We are committed to eradicating fruit fly from SA and that's why the government continues to allocate additional resources to get on top of this horticultural pest."
If you are in the red outbreak area in Berri township, instead of using your garden compost you must put unwanted fruit and vegetables at risk from fruit fly, including waste, into your kerbside green waste wheelie bin.
The Berri Barmera Council will increase collection to a weekly service and is implementing 'fruit fly safe' disposal processes.
Residents in the red outbreak area in Berri 'out of town', who do not have a kerbside green waste service, should seal their fruit and vegetable waste in an airtight plastic bag and arrange collection by biosecurity officers.
- Details: www.fruitfly.sa.gov.au
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