Five new council areas have been added to the quarantine zone attempting to contain the pest destroying some of the most beloved parks and streetscapes in a city with an already-somewhat-woeful tree canopy.
Effective tomorrow, the polyphagous shot-hole borer quarantine zone now includes Armadale, Kwinana, Mundaring, Rockingham and Serpentine Jarrahdale and captures the entire Perth metropolitan area with 30 local governments.
The quarantine area for polyphagous shot-hole borer has been expanded to cover the entire Perth metropolitan area and now includes two zones to help contain the spread of the destructive pest.
The aim is to create a buffer zone between areas with higher infestations and the rest of the state.
This expanded zone has fewer or no infested trees and heightened surveillance is under way to identify and quickly control new infestations.
PSHB has not been detected outside the metro area, despite a scare about the Shire of Harvey recently that turned out to be a false alarm (and a political minefield).
Trapping and monitoring is ongoing in regional areas, however.
The expanded Perth metro quarantine area is now divided into two zones with rules for each.
The quarantine measures are fundamental to the ongoing national eradication response managed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
DPIRD chief plant biosecurity officer Vincent Lanoiselet thanked the Perth community for doing their part.
“As the weather warms, we urge everyone to check their trees for signs of the borer, particularly those host trees at highest risk such as box elder maples, coral trees, Moreton Bay and Port Jackson figs and London plane trees,” he said.
“Signs of borer activity include tiny holes the size of a ballpoint pen in the tree trunk or branches, staining or discolouration of the wood, gumming and frass, as well as signs of dieback in the tree.”
Any suspected signs of PSHB damage should be reported via the MyPestGuide® Reporter app, 9368 3080 or padis@dpird.wa.gov.au.
More info: agric.wa.gov.au/borer
The rules
Quarantine Area Zone A (more infested);
- cannot move untreated or unseasoned wood outside Zone A, unless in 2.5-centimetre or smaller chips;
- cannot move plant materials, including living plants, greater than 2-centimetre diameter outside Zone A;
- must ensure any machinery used to handle green waste is cleaned before it can be moved outside Zone A.
Zone B acts as a ‘buffer zone’ with fewer or no infested trees. DPIRD is undertaking increased surveillance in Zone B and will respond rapidly to any new detection in that area, as early detection is vital to the eradication effort.
Zone B:
- cannot move untreated or unseasoned wood outside the Quarantine Area, unless in 2.5-centimetre or smaller chips;
- cannot move plant materials, including living plants, greater than 2-centimetre diameter outside quarantine area;
- can move wood or plant materials, including living plants, into Zone A;
- must ensure any machinery used to handle green waste is cleaned before it can be moved outside the quarantine area.
Lawn clippings and grasses are not affected.
Can’t meet the requirements? Contact DPIRD to obtain a permit.
Read the full article here
