POLYPHAGOUS shot-hole borer (PSHB) is getting a foothold in the cities of Kalamunda and Swan with both losing trees to the invasive beetle, which burrows deep into trees, causing dieback and often eventually tree death.
Kalamunda and Swan have confirmed they are among the local governments, which have lost trees due to PSHB and are applying for funding through the WA tree recovery program, announced by the Cook Government.
To be eligible to apply for funding a local government must have had PSHB tree removal under the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development authorisation on land managed by the local government.
The City of Kalamunda said it was applying for external funding opportunities to replace the trees that had been removed as a result of PSHB and would be applying for the WA tree recovery local government grant.
Mayor Margaret Thomas said since the first detection of the PSHB in the city in August last year they had been actively monitoring the situation and working closely with DPIRD.
“The total number of infected trees for removal (or removed already) is 52,’’ she said.
The City of Swan did not disclose an exact number of trees that had either been removed or were set for removal.
Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson said the city had lost a small number of trees to PSHB and confirmed the city’s intention to apply for round one of the grant funding made available by the state government.
The Town of Bassendean said it had lost one street tree due to PSHB.
“As minimal town trees have been affected, we have not applied for funding through round one of the WA tree recovery local government grant program,’’ a spokeswoman said.
“Should additional trees be affected in future, the town will consider applying for future rounds.’’
The Shire of Mundaring said it was closely monitoring the PSHB situation and continued to work in partnership with DPIRD.
Mundaring President Paige McNeil said to date, the shire had not been advised of any confirmed PSHB tree infestations within its local government area.
“As such, the shire has not experienced any tree loss to the pest and as a result, has not applied for funding under the (tree recovery program),’’ she said.
“The shire remains committed to supporting DPIRD’s efforts to contain and manage the spread of PSHB and will continue to keep the community informed as any new information or public advice becomes available.’’
Ms Thomas said as the lead agency under the national eradication program, DPIRD was responsible for managing PSHB cases, including tracking and reporting infection numbers.
“The City of Kalamunda continues to support DPIRD’s efforts, particularly around the removal and disposal of infected material, and remains committed to safeguarding our local environment and urban canopy,” she said.
Information about PSHB on WA.gov.au said establishment of the pest in WA would have a significant impact on the state’s urban canopy and possibly threaten its agricultural industry.
Trillion Trees Australia president Paul Barber said WA needed better policies and regulation, greater transparency as well as access to granular and accurate data to understand what was really happening to the state’s urban forest as reported in Kalamunda canopy data may be inflated by a change in method
“This is even more important given the current and potential impact of factors like PSHB, which is now spreading through the City of Kalamunda,’’ he said.
The state government has said the $7.2 million funding over four years will be available for replanting initiatives by local governments, residents and the Perth Zoo with the WA tree recovery offering funding to local governments for replacement planting projects.