Wangaratta's Battle against fruit fly ‘lost’

Eradication program lacked resident support

Written by HARVEY DIKE. Wangaratta Chronicle 4 Jan 09

WANGARATTA is fighting a losing battle against fruit fly.

While the incidence of the pest is rapidly increasing, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is being ‘drawn away’ from the city by more pressing outbreaks in commercial orchards in Glenrowan and the border area.

A fruit fly awareness program, launched in Wangaratta early in December, has not been effective enough to stop the spread of the pest.

Bill Ashcroft, the DPI officer in charge of the fruit fly eradication program, said flies were widely distributed across the town, and that Wangaratta "has gone the way we expected it to go".

"It’s certainly not looking good for Wangaratta," he said.

"We are continuing with our blocking program there, but the demands for our services are more urgent in other areas.

"We recently ran out of the blocks because so many have been needed.

"Our eradication efforts in the city have not met with the full co-operation of all residents.

"We will continue to respond to reports of larvae discovery, but we won’t be able to deal with sightings of the fly itself."

Mr Ashcroft said there were several ways Wangaratta residents could still prevent a more serious fly infestation.

"Use common sense, and make sure the fruit from all trees is either used or destroyed," he said.

"Rake up fallen fruit, put it in a plastic bag and leave it in the sun for a few days.

"Alternatively, put it in a bag in the freezer, and once it is frozen, it can be put in a bin.

"If larvae is found and you’re willing to allow us access to your property, ring us on (02) 60304500 and we will deal with it."

Sykes welcomes return of fox bounty

Source: Sykes Media - 2 Feb 09

The Labor Government’s wilting to an ongoing campaign to re-instate the fox bounty has been welcomed by Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said, “The Brumby Government’s back flip on fox bounties is most welcome.

“It’s amazing how some poor polling results can change Mr Brumby and Minister for Agriculture, Joe Helper’s thoughts on the fox bounty.

“Mr Helper has repeatedly said that a fox bounty is ineffective and that it only gets a run because of political pressure.

Dr Sykes continued, “I, along with my Nationals colleagues and hunting groups have continually argued that fox (& dog) bounties are an integral part of coordinated fox and dog control – only to have Mr Helper dismiss this point of view.

“Now Mr Helper is adopting Nationals policy – to which I say, well done and we have a few more sound policies available for adoption!”

Irrigator bills likely to soar

Published by Border Mail - 23/07/2008. Archived 23/07/08

IRRIGATORS in the Ovens and King valleys are facing a tenfold increase in what they pay for water.

The massive price rise will be partly used to offset the almost $20 million worth of work to be spent to shore up Lake Buffalo and Lake William Hovell dam walls from floods.

Discussions within Goulburn-Murray Water say the cost to supply a megalitre of water in the system could increase to $60 in the next five years.

Last summer water licence holders on the rivers paid between $5 and $6 a megalitre.

The authority’s strategy and stakeholder manager Garry Smith said that was well below the true cost of supplying its customers.

“It actually cost the water authority about $28 a megalitre to supply that water,” he said.

“If the price was to go to $60 or more, that would seem a substantial increase, but it is off an extremely low base, at the moment it is less than a cent a tonne delivered to the farm boundary.

“The price rise isn’t directly linked to the dam wall works but it was an opportunity to review our pricing.”

Goulburn-Murray Water plans to spend $8 million at Lake William Hovell and $11 million at Lake Buffalo.

Mr Smith said there was no present threat to those near the dam walls.

“The works are about the safety of the storage — particular issues include earthquake stability, some of the operational equipment but mainly flood capacity and embankment stability,” he said.

“It is also about a new understanding of extreme flood risks, well above what has been seen in those valleys.”

There would be no changes to pricing in this financial year.

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Original article available here
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Comment:
And so the price should rise tenfold. Last year, I heard of local vineyards buying in extra water at $1000 a megalitre. In these days of water shortage, it is immoral for the water authority to sell water below cost