FRUIT growers have expressed interest in seeing greater enforcement of the region’s pest free area following a number of fruit fly outbreaks.
While a free baiting program has been initiated in backyards across the Swan Hill area, there is growing interest in a program to further target visitors infringing on quarantine rules.
During an outbreak of fruit fly, local growers are limited by restrictions on trade and imposed with regulations.
“It means there’s a restriction on where the produce can be sold both locally and overseas and there also has to be a program of making sure that detection gets cleared up so there are no further detections,” Swan Hill Summerfruit Development Association secretary Gino Salvo said.
“I think the locals understand the issue with the fruit fly, but if that could be spread further out so those travelling to our region understand that, it would be good — but I’m not too sure how that can be done, whether through advertising or something else.”
But Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said a local initiative to assist locals in baiting fruit fly was the priority in stopping the malicious pest in its tracks.
“The responsibility lies with locals — if people are having visitors they need to let them know [about the pest free area],” Mr Walsh said.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Guardian (January 2).
