THE 2026-27 state budget included $3.8 million funding for local government areas (LGA) to combat the spread of the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB).

In the WA local government association’s (WALGA) 2026-27 state budget submission, the association requested $45 million over four years for PSHB quarantine area (QA) designated local governments.

The amount allocated is less than half the amount requested by WALGA for 2026-27.

An additional $7 million over three years was also requested for residents in QA affected areas.

“Local governments’ tree maintenance budgets are already stretched to capacity,” WALGA’s submission revealed.

“They cannot absorb the surge in workload required to manage PSHB without state government investment.

“Without support, more trees will be lost, and natural environments will suffer irreversible decline.

“Effective control must also extend beyond public land.

“Funding mechanisms that support private residents to treat infected trees are essential to ensure a comprehensive and equitable biosecurity response.

“If infestations on private property are left unchecked, progress made on public lands will be undone and the borer will continue to spread.”

Echo News put questions to the Shire of Mundaring, City of Kalamunda and the City of Swan to see how PSHB was impacting their LGAs.

Back in September 2024, City of Swan announced quarantine rules as the city fell into zone A and zone B quarantine areas.

Zone A is the management zone where shot hole borer infestations were more severe relative to zone B which is the containment zone where less PSHB activity was recorded.

City of Swan chief executive officer Stephen Cain said there are currently no known reports of PSHB with the city requiring investigation.

“The city currently considers PSHB management as part of the overall cost of tree maintenance,” Mr Cain said.

“The city expects to receive funds; however, we have not yet determined how to most effectively use these funds.

“We have modified the trees we plant as well as our guidelines to remove species most susceptible to PSHB.

“The city has procedures in place for our staff and contractors to ensure green waste is either mulched or covered if transporting it between the management zone, containment zone and quarantine area.”

City of Kalamunda Mayor Margaret Thomas said 61 infected trees within the city were identified during the state’s initial response to PSHB and they were removed during the eradication phase.

“PSHB remains a present risk across the city, and while there is no current evidence of widespread infestation, the city continues to actively monitor trees in parks, streetscapes and reserves for any signs of the pest,” she said.

“To support recovery, the city secured over $50,000 through the WA tree recovery grant program to plant 135 replacement trees, with the city contributing over $119,000 in in-kind costs.”

A Shire of Mundaring spokesperson said there have been no detections or associated activities within the shire to date and so costs have not been materially impacted.

“Future costs are difficult to estimate at this stage and would depend on the extent of any future detections and required management actions,” they said.

“The shire understands the next round of the WA tree recovery local government grant program will include a new ‘futureproof’ funding stream aimed at supporting proactive tree planting projects to increase canopy cover and native biodiversity in areas within the PSHB QA.”

The spokesperson said improved direct communication from state or federal government with local government operational areas would assist councils in responding effectively to emerging issues and management requirements.