The first domino has fallen in the Marshall Liberal Government’s $50 million fruit fly eradication plan with Mediterranean fruit fly successfully eradicated from Port Augusta.
Restrictions on movement of fresh fruit and vegetables in Port Augusta have been lifted after a seven-month battle to rid the horticultural pest.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said fruit fly maggots were initially discovered in backyard fruit trees and it is pleasing to see the successful eradication.
“Thank you to all residents in the affected area in Port Augusta and surrounds for their support for our fruit fly eradication program,” said Minister Basham.
“From the first detection in May where a resident reported maggots to the Fruit Fly Hotline, to residents keeping gardens clean and giving biosecurity access to backyards to apply organic bait, community support has contributed to the successful eradication program.
“The State Government has been responding to fruit fly outbreaks across South Australia which have been threatening the state’s $1.3 billion at-risk horticultural industry, including 37,500 local jobs, 4,000 businesses and thousands of livelihoods.
“The eradication program in Port Augusta has been thorough, involving a combination of fruit and vegetable movement restrictions to stop fruit fly spreading, organic baiting, collecting fallen fruit, checking fruit for signs of fruit fly, and releasing sterile flies to break the life cycle.
“Now the fruit fly outbreak in Port Augusta has been eradicated, there are no longer restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables in that area, meaning they can be moved from your property.”
Member for Stuart Dan van Holst Pellekaan thanked Port Augusta residents for doing the right thing.
“We understand that restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables are inconvenient but everyone in the Port Augusta community have been fantastic in following the rules,” Minister van Holst Pellekaan said.
“This cooperation has meant we’ve been able to get on top of this fruit fly outbreak and we can lift all restrictions which is great news for the region.”
Minister Basham said while the outbreak in Port Augusta has ended, we still need the community to remain vigilant and maintain their gardens to help prevent future fruit fly outbreaks.
“It’s a timely reminder to keep gardens tidy as summer fruits come into season, such as peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines, berries and tomatoes.
“Pick fruit once ripe, collect fallen fruit, check fruit for maggots and call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010 if you see anything wriggling in your fruit.
“We all need to play our part to protect South Australia from fruit fly.”
Fruit fly outbreaks and restrictions continue in metropolitan Adelaide and the Riverland.
Travellers should check the fruit fly website to understand restrictions in the regions they are travelling to.
For more information about the fruit fly restrictions visit .
