THE root of the Queensland fruit fly infestation problem in the Mallee was backyard fruit trees, but a free tree removal program has now been phased out.
After a seven-year run where 10,498 trees were removed, the program will now shift its focus towards education, insect nets and trapping strategies.
Fruit Fly Murray Valley regional co-ordinator Narelle Beattie said the Victorian Government-funded program was introduced when the fruit fly outbreak started.
“It was important to make sure that people in backyards weren’t breeding up fruit fly and impacting on our valuable horticultural area,” Ms Beattie said.
“Now is the time for the community to really take ownership to the managing of trees in your backyard, and they’ve had many years of opportunity to have any trees that they didn’t want removed.
“We’re looking and really focusing on managing the ones that they’ve chosen to keep.”
The last free host tree removals occurred last month.
More than 7500 trees removed during the program were from Mildura and surrounds, almost 2000 were taken from Swan Hill and surrounds, and the remaining 1000 were removed from Koondrook, Kerang, Murrabit, Robinvale and Euston.
Stone fruit trees were the most common host trees for Queensland fruit fly infestations in the Murray Valley, comprising about 45 per cent of the total trees removed.
More than 20 per cent of the removed trees were citrus trees, 13 per cent were pome fruit trees, and the remainder were other varietals.
