Published Friday, 29 June, 2007 at 01:06 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
CITRUS REPLANTING READY TO ROLL IN EMERALD
The National Citrus Canker Eradication Program will reach a much-anticipated milestone on July 1, 2007, with commercial citrus trees being allowed back into the Emerald district for the first time in three years.
However, despite celebrating this big step, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries is adamant there is still a lot of hard work to be done before Australia can be officially declared canker-free.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin today congratulated the Emerald community and citrus growers on their work in reaching the goal and reaffirmed that DPI&F remained “in for the long haul’’.
“Reaching this great milestone demonstrates how far we’ve come in three years, but it also shows how far we’ve got to go before citrus canker is confirmed as eradicated from Australia,” Mr Mulherin said.
“From Sunday, some growers will be bringing approved planting material into the Emerald Pest Quarantine Area, an area that has been the ‘Fort Knox’ of quarantine for three years, and it’s all part of starting to replant Emerald’s commercial citrus orchards.
“The first intended consignments of trees have undergone stringent inspections by DPI&F inspectors at their source nurseries outside the Pest Quarantine Area to confirm they are free of the disease before they come into the area.
“This process will continue well after Sunday with approximately 180,000 trees planned to enter the area for planting over the next three months,” he said.
“All replanted orchards in the Pest Quarantine Area will continue to be monitored for signs of citrus canker, with stringent inspections of the replanted trees happening every 90 days for a further 18 months after July 1.’’
Mr Mulherin said that, as an extra layer of protection, only commercial citrus trees would be allowed to be planted in the Pest Quarantine Area, with backyard replanting expected to be permitted only after eradication is officially declared – something that’s expected in early 2009.
“DPI&F, together with our national funding partners, has invested millions of dollars, thousands of man hours, and enough blood sweat and tears to go around getting to this point, and all of these checks and balances are in the name of a sustainable, productive and profitable citrus industry in Emerald,” Mr Mulherin said.
For more information about the National Citrus Canker Eradication Program, visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.
Media: 32396530
However, despite celebrating this big step, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries is adamant there is still a lot of hard work to be done before Australia can be officially declared canker-free.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin today congratulated the Emerald community and citrus growers on their work in reaching the goal and reaffirmed that DPI&F remained “in for the long haul’’.
“Reaching this great milestone demonstrates how far we’ve come in three years, but it also shows how far we’ve got to go before citrus canker is confirmed as eradicated from Australia,” Mr Mulherin said.
“From Sunday, some growers will be bringing approved planting material into the Emerald Pest Quarantine Area, an area that has been the ‘Fort Knox’ of quarantine for three years, and it’s all part of starting to replant Emerald’s commercial citrus orchards.
“The first intended consignments of trees have undergone stringent inspections by DPI&F inspectors at their source nurseries outside the Pest Quarantine Area to confirm they are free of the disease before they come into the area.
“This process will continue well after Sunday with approximately 180,000 trees planned to enter the area for planting over the next three months,” he said.
“All replanted orchards in the Pest Quarantine Area will continue to be monitored for signs of citrus canker, with stringent inspections of the replanted trees happening every 90 days for a further 18 months after July 1.’’
Mr Mulherin said that, as an extra layer of protection, only commercial citrus trees would be allowed to be planted in the Pest Quarantine Area, with backyard replanting expected to be permitted only after eradication is officially declared – something that’s expected in early 2009.
“DPI&F, together with our national funding partners, has invested millions of dollars, thousands of man hours, and enough blood sweat and tears to go around getting to this point, and all of these checks and balances are in the name of a sustainable, productive and profitable citrus industry in Emerald,” Mr Mulherin said.
For more information about the National Citrus Canker Eradication Program, visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.
Media: 32396530