Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone said the participation of local residents and businesses in the area was key to eradicating fruit fly in the region, 

“The eradication program is now successfully completed following the detection of Mediterranean fruit fly larvae in May this year and I’d like to acknowledge the important role played by the local community in assisting to lift this quarantine area,” he said.

“The state government successfully used sterile insect technology to eradicate the outbreak at Thevenard through the great work by Biosecurity SA. “These initiatives help ensure South Australia retains its fruit fly free status and protecting vulnerable horticulture industries worth $1.25 billion in 2016–17.”

The Thevenard eradication program included the removal of wild fly populations through a combination of bait spotting, sterile insect releases, and the collection of 3103 kilograms of host fruit and vegetative matter from both the Thevenard and Ceduna outbreak areas.

Operations to eradicate med-fly continue in Ceduna, with the quarantine and suspension area expected to be lifted on January 23, 2019 without any further detection. The state government has introduced a number of measures to ramp-up protection against the threat of fruit fly, including extra random roadblocks, appointment of a dedicated Riverland fruit fly coordinator, baiting in an interstate buffer zone and increased audits of accredited businesses transporting produce into the state. 

“I’ve been working closely with industry on ways we can increase the state’s fruit fly protection and it’s important these extra measures are in place as we come into summer,” Minister Whetstone said. “Through this extra suite of measures, we will be checking more cars and sending a stronger message to anyone coming into our pest-free areas to adhere to strict quarantine rules. “This government is being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to biosecurity in this state.”