‘It would be a disaster’ — Perth Hill fruit and vege growers call for plan if Qfly found again

Orchardists in the Perth Hills are calling for a plan to avoid “disaster” and protect growers if a pest outbreak occurs in the food producing regions on the fringe of the city. It comes after the detection of a female Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) in Perth’s western suburbs last year sparked fears of an outbreak and triggered a $13.5 million, 15-month State Government funded campaign to combat it. The detection of a female carrying eggs in a trap in Coolbellup in January added fuel to the fire and plunged the State’s biggest fresh food market into a quarantine zone as it was within a 15km radius of the detection. All produce at the Canning Vale market was required to be covered in fly-proof packaging — cardboard boxes sealed with tape, sealed plastic bags or fly-proof mesh — and kept inside at all times. The restrictions were lifted after the pest’s successful eradication in May. However, Karagullen stonefruit grower Danny Di Marco said growers “were worried” about what may happen if a Qfly or other destructive pest was found within a 15km radius of the Perth Hills. When the Coolbellup outbreak occurred, movement of home-grown fruit and vegetables out of the suburbs within the quarantine zone was restricted. Mr Di Marco said it would be a “disaster” if growers fell into the 15km radius and were unable to shift their produce out of the area. “How are you going to make your income — it would be a disaster,” he said. “When you get to this stage where you’ve done all the hard work and bang. “We’ve got to feed this population in Perth and if we start shutting growers down we could be in trouble.” Throughout the successful eradication program, 550 Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development staff and surveillance officers conducted surveillance and trapping on more than 173,000 properties in the quarantine zone. The fruit from plants within a 200m radius of the detection was stripped, with 35,000kg of at-risk fruit disposed. Mr Di Marco said the industry was seeking clarification from the DPIRD about what plans were in place “keep growers going” if they fell within such a zone. He said they wanted to be able to prepare for the “worst case scenario”. “It never has happened and we’re hoping that it won’t, but we really need to be talking about it now because it could,” Mr Di Marco said. “The Perth Hills produces about 70 per cent of the stone fruit in WA. “It’s clean, it’s green...it’s pristine and we can’t afford to lose it, we’ve got to protect it. “DPIRD’s done a great job without a doubt, but we’ve got to put plans in place for the future to keep our growers.” DPIRD chief plant biosecurity officer Sonya Broughton said a draft WA Fruit Fly Strategy was released for industry consultation earlier this year. “The draft Strategy, which aligns with the Australian National Fruit Fly Management Protocols, provides a proposed framework on trapping, trade and management, and eradication of fruit fly in WA,” she said. “National protocols support the successful management of fruit fly and include the National Fruit Fly Trapping Surveillance Network, which operates as an early warning system for the pest.” “In the event of a pest incursion, such as Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), the movement of produce would be governed by the national fruit fly code of practice. Dr Broughton said the department would work closely with the industry to “navigate a pathway to market” in such an event, which could include disinfestation treatment options. “Opportunities to enhance the State’s preparedness for a potential Qfly outbreak in a commercial production area are currently being explored, as part of the department’s biosecurity commitments,” she said. “DPIRD has collaborated with industry to successfully eradicate Qfly on eight occasions since 1989, most recently from the southern Perth suburb of Coolbellup in May 2021.” Between labour shortages and retailers selling produce for discounted prices, Mr Di Marco said the industry had “lost a lot of growers” and more needed to be done to protect those that were left. “We’re getting dangerously to that level where we won’t be able to supply our own market,” he said. “We’re really in a dangerous area of losing too many growers. We’ve already lost too many and our concern we could be in strife for the food production of the future.”