News

Christie Centre joins fruit fly fight

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 20:16:00

The Christie Centre has extended its support to Sunraysia’s horticulture industries, removing all its fruit trees to assist in the region’s fight against fruit fly.

No longer able to effectively manage the trees, the local disability service called on the help of Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area (GSPFA), which had the trees removed from the Christie Centre’s Mildura properties last week as part of a successful tree removal program.

Christie Centre executive officer Florence Davidson said having an array of fruit trees, including plum, crab apple, lemon, orange and cumquat, had resulted in an escalated amount of fallen fruit, creating slipping risks and increasing the potential for Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) to flourish.

“As responsible citizens we need to acknowledge that there are alternatives to fruit trees and the care and attention required to ensure we do not inadvertently have a negative impact on our local horticultural industry or surrounding gardens,” Ms Davidson said.

“We have access to some of the best quality local seasonal produce and we can take advantage of this as needed. The management of fruit fly is a responsibility we all share and one we are pleased to play our part in.”

Ms Davidson said staff had previously spent time pruning the trees, harvesting fruit and, more recently, monitoring for Qfly using traps, but they couldn’t continue to maintain so many trees.

Since the Christie Centre began operating GrowAbility Nursery near Apex Park, Ms Davidson said they had also developed a greater appreciation of native trees and the environmental benefits they offer.

“Once the soil where the fruit trees were has recovered, we will invest in locally propagated native trees and shrubs to welcome birdlife to the gardens and enhance the sensory spaces at our sites,” she said.

“Our team at GrowAbility has selected a range of replacements that will offer shade, are tolerant to our conditions and remain pest free.”

Victorian residents living between Yelta and Kerang, either in town or on a residential block in a rural area, can have their fruit trees removed for free by a professional arborist.

To register for the free tree removal program, and for more tips to help control Qfly in your garden, contact GSPFA on 03 5022 0327 or visit www.pestfreearea.com.au.

This work is funded by the Victorian Government’s Managing Fruit Fly Regional Grants program.

Media contact:

Narelle Beattie, GSPFA Regional Coordinator
0438 335 661