A FREE tree removal program continues to help fight fruit fly in the Gannawarra Shire, with more than 250 fruit trees removed in the area over the last three years.
Helping to reduce fruit fly activity and support local industries and communities, the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area’s free tree removal program is available once more this fruit fly season.
GSPFA regional coordinator Narelle Beattie said managing fruit trees against fruit fly was difficult, and people often “underestimate the time, money and effort required to do it properly”.
“Most of the people who participated in the program in the past decided to remove their trees because they were too much work, they were sick of picking up fruit, and their trees were too big,” Ms Beattie said.
“It was a difficult decision for many of them, but their trees had become too hard to manage, and they wanted to do the right thing for the local area.
“Participants found the removal process to be easy and efficient and were relieved they no longer had to worry about managing their trees.”
Ms Beattie said now was the “optimum time” for people to have unwanted trees removed.
Since the tree removal program began in 2016, GSPFA has removed 6280 fruit fly host trees, including 2903 stone fruit trees, 1252 citrus and 1275 other varieties.
Residents in Kerang, Koondrook and Murrabit have been taking up the program in droves, with 257 fruit trees removed in the area over the last three years.
Ms Beattie said the program had been successful in eliminating fruit fly host plants from across the area.
However, she said there was still more to be done.
“If people can’t get rid of fruit fly or don’t want to manage their trees, they need to make sure they’re not the cause of infestations for our valuable horticulture industries,” she said.
Victorian residents who live between Yelta and Kerang, either in town or on a residential block in rural areas, can have their unwanted fruit trees removed by professional arborists at no cost to the householder.
The work is funded by the Victorian Government’s Managing Fruit Fly Regional Grant Program.
