Biosecurity

Phytophthora Dieback spreads via the movement of spores through wet soil and from plant to plant through their root systems. Human activity in infested areas is the main method by which diseased soil is moved from place to place. It can also be spread by movement of infested gravel, road construction, animals and off-road vehicles. The risk of spread is greatest during spring and autumn.

The City of Melville is actively engaged in managing the impact and spread of dieback. Although there are effective treatments to slow the spread of Phytophthora Dieback, there is no known method to eradicate the pathogen.

Dieback in the City of Melville has been confirmed in the following locations:

• Wireless Hill Park
• Ken Hurst Park
• Blue Gum Lake
• Attadale Quarantine Area
• Len Shearer Reserve
• Beasley Reserve
• Ron Carrol Reserve
• Douglas Freeman Park
• Bill Brown Reserve
• Peter Ellis Park
• Robert Weir Park
• Richard Lewis Reserve
• Piney Lakes Reserve
• Harry Sandon Park
• Point Walter
• Harry Stickland
• Peter Bosci Reserve
• Bull Creek Reserve/Brockman Park
• Phillip Jane Reserve
• George Welby Park
• Al Richardson
• PJ Hanley Park
• William Hall Park

Phosphite Treatment

In the City of Melville, native vegetation is treated using phosphite; a biodegradable, non-toxic fungicide, that boosts a plants defence and enables it to survive being infected by Phytophthora pathogens. However, phosphite does not eradicate the disease, it only suppresses the symptoms.

Other Control Measures

The City of Melville has implemented a number of dieback control initiatives in bushland areas where dieback is present. Our initiatives include:

• Installation of boot cleaning stations at Wireless Hill Reserve, Attadale Reserve and Piney Lakes Reserve.
• Making dieback hygiene kits available for community group use in susceptible areas
• Providing dieback hygiene kits to Environmental Services department staff who work in our bushlands
• Mapping and treatment of our bushland reserves on a three yearly cycle to monitor the occurrence and spread of the disease
• Signage to mark out dieback infected areas
• Fencing to restrict access where there is high risk of dieback being spread
• Development of hygiene guidelines applicable to staff, contractors and the community who work in bushland areas.

There are a number of things you can do to help stop the spread of dieback:

• Adhering to signage, staying on paths and respecting fences in bushland areas
• Asking for dieback-free plants, gravel, potting mix, mulch and soil at your local nursery or garden centre
• Community members can get involved in protecting their local bushland areas.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is leading the eradication efforts, with support from local governments within the Quarantine Area.  

DPIRD officers are hand-delivering letters to key-affected areas (starting with Willagee) while undertaking inspections and applying baits to trees. In addition to engaging with local radio and print media to help raise awareness, outdoor signage, flyers, posters and online advertising is being rolled out. 

The City will continue supporting DPIRDs efforts and will use a variety of formats (in-person, online and printed) to help spread the word.

The City is undertaking the following actions to support the eradication of Qfly: 

• Auditing all reserves/streetscapes/verges where City-managed fruiting trees/plants exist, per the DPIRD host and suspected host list. 

• Removing all existing fruit debris, from the ground and trees, into bags. Bagged material is being treated prior to disposal.  

• Sourcing an insecticide and a protein attractant to spray onto the trunks of all City managed fruit trees, especially the larger trees and those that will require contractor assistance to remove fruit such as Olives, Lilly Pilly’s and Moreton Bay figs. Please note, officers will not spray entire trees - just the base - using an insecticide that's active ingredient ‘Spinosad’ is derived from the fermentation of naturally occurring micro-organisms. It has low toxicity to mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans and many predatory insect species. This will be mixed with the protein attractant. 

• The City is hosting two drop-off events to help residents safely dispose of their treated (solarised) bagged fruit and fruiting vegetables. On Saturday, 21 and 28 December, residents can drop into the City of Melville Operations Centre (13 Bramanti Road, Murdoch) between 10.00am and 12noon to dispose of treated and bagged fruit and fruiting vegetables – a list of treatment options are available on our website.