Monday, November 11, 2024

City of Wanneroo digs in against invasive beetle

City of Wanneroo Council is calling on the community to join the fight against the invasive Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB).

First detected in Perth in 2021, the tiny, wood-boring beetle has been detected in trees across Perth, with a quarantine notice quickly put in place to support the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Developmentā€™s (DPIRD) response.

The Council says it is working closely with DPIRD to prevent the spread of the PSHB, and encourages the community to use the MyPestGuide app to report suspected sightings.

Mayor, Linda Aitken said the Council needed residentsā€™ support to help stop the spread of the PSHB.

ā€œThe PSHB could significantly impact the City of Wannerooā€™s urban canopy if it were to become established here,ā€ she said. 

ā€œItā€™s important that we all check our trees for signs and report any suspected sightings through the app, to allow DPIRD to investigate.

ā€œProtecting and increasing our canopy cover and vegetation is a key goal for the City, as set out in our Urban Forest Strategy.ā€

The City of Wanneroo currently sits in Zone B of the Quarantine Area.

This means residents:

  • cannot move untreated or unseasoned wood outside the Quarantine Area, unless chipped to pieces that are 2.5 cm or less in diameter;
  • cannot move plant materials, including living plants, that are greater than 2cm in diameter outside the Quarantine Area;
  • must ensure any machinery used to handle green waste is cleaned before it can be moved outside the Quarantine Area, can move wood or plant materials, including living plants, into Zone A.

Find out moreĀ about the PSHB and how you can help prevent its spread.

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