The Quarantine Area (QA) for exotic pest Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) has been expanded to support the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) ongoing surveillance program to determine the spread of the pest. The new Quarantine Area Notice (QAN) came into effect on 16 November.
A map of the QA, list of tree hosts and more advice to residents is available here
It’s important all residents now located within the expanded QA were aware of the restrictions on the movement of wood and green waste from their properties, as they could act as hosts and potentially spread the borer. Residents cannot remove any bark, potted plants, firewood, tree prunings, logs, plant cuttings, mulch, timber, wood or wood chips above a certain size outside of the QA.
The borer attacks a wide range of trees. The five most important trees to check are maple, willow, plane, coral tree and avocado.
The Quarantine Area will remain in place initially for six months.
More information
- Wood means wood that is not treated and in use for construction, fencing and furniture. It includes green waste material including cut branches or prunings, bark, firewood, plant mulch or wood chips.
- Wood must be chipped to pieces that are less than 2.5cm in diameter before leaving the QA.
- Living plants with woody stems greater than 2cm must not leave the QA. Living plants means any plant, organ or plant part (including plant cutting) with woody stems that are greater than 2cm in diameter.
- A permit from DRIRD is required to move material out of the QA, if above conditions are unable to be met.
- Movement within the QA is allowed.
- Any gardening machinery or equipment used for tree lopping, gardening, mulching, wood chipping or handling green waste must have all wood material removed before moving outside of the quarantine area.
- The borer does not affect grass, so lawn clippings can be disposed of as normal.
What to do
Residents who suspect they have borer damage to trees should make a report with the DRIRD’s Pest and Disease Information Service on 9368 3080 or via the department’s MyPestGuide™ Reporter app (Google Play Store and Apple iTunes Store), or email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au
It is important for residents and businesses to continue check your trees and plants and to report any unusual symptoms to DPIRD to help provide valuable data to inform future actions.