About 400 properties with fruit trees will be targeted by biosecurity inspectors across Norwood and Kent Town as part of a proactive approach to ridding the city of fruit fly and to protect thousands of jobs across South Australia's horticulture industry.
The Marshall Liberal Government has spent around $40 million in eradicating 18 fruit fly outbreaks in Metropolitan Adelaide, the Riverland and Port Augusta.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said Norwood and Kent Town have been chosen for the targeted operation due to a number of fruit fly larvae finds in backyard fruit trees.
"From Monday biosecurity officers will be targeting 400 properties with fruit trees in Norwood and Kent Town offering to remove fresh produce at risk from fruit fly," Minister Basham said.
"This is a strategic focus to stop the spread of fruit fly larvae in the Norwood area to reduce the risk of fruit fly emerging and spreading further in the warmer months. We are strengthening our eradication response from all angles to protect South Australia's $1.3 billion horticulture industry at risk from fruit fly, representing thousands of jobs and local businesses.
"Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) staff wearing orange overalls and carrying official ID will be going door by door from today offering to help remove at-risk produce.
"Everyone must play an important role in the eradication of the current fruit fly outbreaks by picking fruit promptly in your own gardens, collecting fallen fruit and vegetables off the ground, checking for signs of fruit fly, and allowing our biosecurity officers access to your property to do their job.
"Officers will continue to place Cera traps in the area, as part of our deployment of 14,000 across the state as one of our winter tactics to further stop fruit fly in its tracks.
"We are seeking everyone's co-operation to help in eradicating fruit fly – at the end of the day, nobody wants to bite into fruit that has maggots inside. The focus is on in-season citrus such as cumquats, oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes and grapefruits, as well as fruit fly host vegetables.
"If you're not home when biosecurity staff visit, you'll be left information on how to contact PIRSA to arrange a follow up visit to assist with clearing fruit.
"We are encouraging homeowners to eat, juice, cook or preserve their fruit and vegetables where possible, but if you can't please dispose of the waste in your closed green bin – do not compost or bury it. We know the fruit movement restrictions have been in place for a long time, and we thank everyone for doing the right thing in following them.
"Check the fruit fly website or call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010 to find out what fruit and vegetables are at risk and learn what to do if you are in a red, yellow or green area."
Fruit fly restrictions will remain in place until at least December 2021. For more information, visit www.fruitfly.sa.gov.au
