Removal of unwanted or unmanaged fruit trees disrupts fruit fly habitat, making it harder for the pest to spread.
Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management program co-ordinator Ross Abberfield said residents with a fruit tree they no longer wanted or found difficult to manage were being asked to contact their council and have it removed at no cost, to help protect against fruit fly.
“It only takes one unmanaged fruit tree to provide a potential food source for new generations of fruit fly to flourish in,” Mr Abberfield said.
“By removing fruit trees and host plants that are unwanted or can no longer be managed it is making it harder for fruit fly to find suitable habitat to lay eggs and breed, resulting in a rapid increase in fruit fly numbers.”
Fruit fly can infest a wide variety of fruit and vegetables leaving them inedible.
Fruit and vegetables susceptible to fruit fly include stone fruit, apples and pears, citrus, strawberries, figs, tomatoes and capsicums.
Property owners in the Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Moira and Shepparton council areas can have a fruit tree removed through the Fruit Tree Removal Program by collecting an application form from their participating council or visit: www.fruitflycontrol.com.au
The tree removal program is provided free of charge to land and property holders and allows for the removal of unmanaged fruit trees and plants from orchards, private residences, and public areas such as nature strips.
All tree removal works undertaken as part of the program are carried out by fully insured professional contractors at no cost to the property owner.
Community members are also encouraged to report unmanaged fruit trees on public land, roadsides, creeks, reserves and channel banks by emailing: gmvfruitfly@moira.vic.gov.au
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