Working together to manage fruit fly
Summary of Managing fruit fly in Victoria: Action Plan 2015-2020
Authorised by the Victorian Government Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport & Resources (DEDJTR), 1 Spring Street Melbourne Victoria 3000. November 2015
ISBN 978-1-74146-868-7 (print)
ISBN 978-1-74146-869-4 (pdf)
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Fruit fly in Victoria
Everyone living in or travelling through a fruit and vegetable growing area can help manage fruit fly.
Our horticulture industries are vital to many of our regional centres, supporting local jobs and businesses.
Fruit flies threaten Victoria’s horticulture industries, affecting production and disrupting trade.
To effectively manage fruit fly the horticulture industry, local communities and all levels of government must work together.
As well as managing our more common fruit flies, such as Queensland fruit fly (QFF), the threat of exotic flies, also needs to be coordinated. Exotic species include the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly).
Coordinating fruit fly management
The State-wide Action Plan recognises that fruit fly management in Victoria is a shared responsibility. We need to work together to reduce the impacts of fruit fly on horticulture productivity, quality and market access opportunities.
The five year State-wide Action Plan focuses on three areas:
· Strengthen fruit fly management through coordination and collaboration.
· Improving the management of fruit fly.
· Enabling intrastate, interstate and international trade.
Partnerships will be formed across industry, the community and government to ensure the coordinated delivery of the State-wide Action Plan.
State-wide
A Victorian Fruit Fly Advisory Committee will be established to oversee the implementation of the State-wide Action Plan and act as a link between industry, government and the community. Committee membership will include representatives from industry, the community and both local and state governments.
A coordinator will be appointed to assist with the delivery of the State-wide Action Plan and coordinate fruit fly activities across Victoria.
Regional
Regional Governance Groups will be established in key horticultural regions to coordinate the delivery of Regional Action Plans. These will align closely with the State-wide Action Plan. Group memberships will include representatives from:
· regional industries
· the community
· local councils
· Victorian Government.
Responsibilities will include coordinating local resources to deliver on both the Regional and State-wide Action Plans.
Regional coordinators will be appointed in the key horticultural regions to support the delivery of the Regional Action Plans.
Key actions in the first 12 months
The following activities support fruit fly management in Victoria and enhance trade opportunities:
· Appointment of a Victorian Government funded state-wide coordinator to assist with the delivery of the State-wide Action Plan.
· Establishment of the Victorian Fruit Fly Advisory Committee to oversee the implementation of the State-wide Action Plan and act as a link between industry, government and the community.
· Key horticultural regions will be identified and regional coordinators appointed to support the development and delivery of Regional Action Plans.
· Community grants programs will be established to support localised actions.
· Research and development into new treatment and control options.
· Development of a central information hub for fruit fly management.
· Development of a fruit fly communications and engagement plan for Victoria to support the delivery of the State-wide Action Plan.
Support for community action
Local communities can play a key role in the fight against fruit fly by supporting control and surveillance activities and managing flies in their own backyards.
These activities are best coordinated at a local level and will be part of the Regional Action Plans.
Community grants will also be available to enable groups and individuals to help raise awareness and take action to combat fruit flies.
More information is available at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/qff