More than 2.5 million sterile fruit flies have been
released in the Riverland, as the region battles
five outbreaks of Queensland fruit fly, which could
cost local farmers and communities millions of
dollars.
Speaking to the ABC, Member for Chaffey Tim
Whetstone has called on backyard fruit tree owners
to strip their trees of fruit to do their part to
help get the region’s 1.3 billion horticulture
industry back to their fruit fly-free status.
"Over 33 tons of fruit have been collected, we would
imagine that there would be significantly more fruit
to be collected if people were to strip their
trees."
He
said the full economic impact of the outbreaks was
yet to be seen but it cost growers more than $4 a
case to treat their fruit.
"I
am estimating it could be $20 million and be as much
as $30 million coming out of the local economy.