The current Quarantine Area Notice to stop the spread of Qfly is being extended for six months and the Red Zone is being reduced in size to focus response efforts.
From Friday 4 April, the revised Red Zone will include the suburbs of Willagee, Palmyra, Melville, O’Connor, Kardinya and Samson, as well as parts of Coolbellup, Murdoch, North Lake and Winthrop.
Residents are encouraged to visit the wa.gov.au/qfly webpage to determine if they are still in the Red Zone and what rules apply.
Red Zone requirements will remain in place for this area, including stripping host fruit and fruiting vegetables, like tomatoes, capsicum and chillies – regardless of maturity.
Movement directions for the Red Zone also remain unchanged and the movement of home-grown Qfly host fruit within or outside of the Red Zone is prohibited.
Residents and businesses that are no longer in the Red Zone will form part of the Orange Zone. Movement requirements for this zone are available online.
DPIRD Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer Vincent Lanoiselet said a team of 200 DPIRD personnel had baited more than 7,900 properties in the Red Zone, deploying more than 170 traps and 10,700 lures in trees.
“The extension of the Quarantine Area Notice for a further six months will support the ongoing response and help ensure that national requirements to demonstrate that Qfly has been eradicated from WA are satisfied,” he said.
If Qfly were to become established in Western Australia, it could impact WA’s horticulture industry and limit access to domestic and export markets.
DPIRD officers are continuing tree inspections, baiting and treatment with a registered organic control for Qfly on residential and commercial properties, as well as street trees.
Trees will not need to be removed as part of DPIRD’s Qfly biosecurity response, as effective treatments are available to control the pest.
The interactive map, a list of host plants, further information on movement, treatment and disposal requirements and response updates can be found at wa.gov.au/qfly.
