Queensland banana growers have been allowed access to Western Australia protected areas, including those within 50km of the Tully farm infected with the Panama TR4 pathogen. Biosecurity Queensland on Thursday announced that it has opened a market access program to allow Queensland bananas access to Western Australia’s protected banana areas without delay. “The new voluntary system has been made available for growers needing help to meet Western Australia’s import movement requirements for banana cartons travelling to protected banana growing areas surrounding Carnarvon and Kununurra,” Biosecurity Queensland said in a statement. The system is not mandatory for growers, who may also continue with any existing arrangements they may have.
Under the program, growers can apply for area freedom accreditation at no cost to themselves, and growers within 50km of the infected farm in Tully can also apply for area freedom accreditation. “The details of businesses granted area freedom accreditation will be provided to Western Australian inspectors to help them determine if a consignment needs to be inspected before it is sent into protected areas,” the statement reads. Bananas from within 50km of the Tully farm will only be allowed in once consignments are cleared as free of plant and soil debris by a West Australian Plant Inspector.
The Western Australian Government has also requested that Queensland growers voluntarily apply stickers to cartons of bananas that come from within 50km of the Tully farm, to help officials quickly identify bananas packed within that area. Stickers will be available to growers through Biosecurity Queensland.
The requirement is similar to an existing obligation between Western Australia and the Northern Territory, which was started following the discovery of the Panama TR4 pathogen in the Northern Territory.
Banana farms no-go for Easter holidaymakers
Banana farms are also off limits to holiday makers over the Easter period, Biosecurity Queensland’s Chief Biosecurity Officer Dr Jim Thompson has also said. “That includes children riding bicycles or motorbikes through banana farming areas.
“This will help reduce the risk of anyone inadvertently picking up and spreading this disease which lives in the soil and infected plant tissue.
“If you go onto a banana farm, you could be either bringing in or picking up the disease fungus on your shoes, bike or vehicle and then spreading it and nobody wants that.”
Shooting, hunting and dogging feral animals was also too risky this Easter, according to Dr Thompson. The Australian Banana Growers’ Council Chairman Doug Phillips also said that growers appreciated the efforts being made by visitors and the local community to contain Panama TR4. ““The holidays are a great time for locals and visitors to enjoy outdoor activities in our North Queensland communities and banana growers really appreciate everyone’s efforts to respect our on-farm biosecurity efforts while they’re enjoying their break,” Mr Phillips said.
For more information
Biosecurity Queensland
Website: www.daff.qld.gov.au
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Biosecurity Queensland twitter account @BiosecurityQld