A BULLWINKEL candidate says businesses in the expanded polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) quarantine area are now on tenterhooks amidst fears the pest continues to spread unchecked.
The Nationals candidate for Bullwinkel and Central Wheatbelt MLA Mia Davies said the unwanted pest was devastating the Perth suburban tree canopy with the potential to spread to the Perth Hills and Avon Valley.
Ms Davies said she had recently visited a business in the Perth Hills whose future could be wiped out if the beetle continued to spread unchecked.
But the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said they had undertaken surveillance on 37 commercial grower properties in the Perth Hills to check for signs of PSHB.
A DPIRD spokeswoman said growers who had concerns could request DPIRD surveillance at their property.
The spokeswoman said the department was leading an unprecedented biosecurity response, the single biggest in its history.
“This includes a more than 150 strong response team that has inspected more than 2 million trees to date,’’ she said.
“In addition, more than 3000 surveillance traps are out in the Perth metropolitan area and across the regions.’’
Echo News asked the department if PSHB was to get into non-reproductive hosts such as citrus and grapes in the cities of Swan and Kalamunda and the Shire of Mundaring was there any concern that the citrus and grape industries could be affected, especially financially if citrus trees and grape vines need to be pruned to save the plant.
The spokeswoman said globally, citrus trees and grape vines have not been found to be highly susceptible to PSHB attack.
“DPIRD has inspected over 63,500 citrus trees and less than 0.03 per cent have been infested by PSHB,’’ she said.
“Of the over 15,500 grape vines inspected, no signs of PSHB have been detected.
“Unfortunately, no chemical treatment has proven effective anywhere in the world and some infested tree species can die within two years.
“Tree pruning and removal of infested trees is the only way to stop the spread.’’
