Mayor Matthew Hannan encouraged residents with a fruit tree they no longer want, or find difficult to manage, to contact council.
“The removal of unmanaged fruit trees makes it harder for fruit fly to get a foot hold and spread by reducing the number of potential breeding grounds,” Cr Hannan said.
“It only takes one unmanaged fruit tree to provide a potential food source for new generations of fruit fly to flourish in.
“By removing fruit trees and host plants that are unwanted or can no longer be managed, it is harder for fruit fly to find suitable habitat to lay eggs and breed.”
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 pear, citrus, strawberries, figs, tomatoes and capsicums, just to name a few.
Berrigan Shire is one of five councils involved in the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program which works with the community, industry and government to increase education and awareness of fruit fly.
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.
“Fruit fly are a serious problem for home gardeners and anyone with a fruit tree or veggie patch, but the pest is also a risk for commercial orchardists in our region, so it is important that we all get on board and protect against fruit fly wherever we can,” Cr Hannan said.
If you have a fruit tree you’d like removed, contact council’s customer service team on 5888 5100 or visit www.fruitflycontrol.com.au and complete and return the application form to council.
