Agriculture Victoria has confirmed a new detection of phylloxera in a Yarra Valley vineyard located inside the Phylloxera Interim Buffer Zone (PIBZ) established in response to the phylloxera detection advised in April 2023. The phylloxera strain associated with this new detection has been confirmed as G1; the same strain known to exist in the Maroondah PIZ.
The latest infested property was in a Phylloxera Risk Zone (PRZ) prior to the PIBZ being established April 2023.
In accordance with the National Phylloxera Management Protocol, Agriculture Victoria placed a 5km radial quarantine buffer zone around this new infested property. Given that the quarantine buffer zone enacted in April overlaps with the buffer zone for this latest detection, a single large quarantine buffer zone has now been formed as a proposed boundary extension to the Maroondah Phylloxera Infested Zone (PIZ).
While this proposed boundary extension to the Maroondah PIZ awaits gazettal by Agriculture Victoria, PIRSA’s Chief Inspector Biosecurity Notice (released 22 May 2023) has confirmed that this area is recognised as a PIBZ for entry requirements into South Australia, effective immediately.
What do you need to do?
- Review your direct links with vineyards and wineries inside the PIBZ (refer map).
- If you are importing regulated items into South Australia from the PIBZ, you must:
- comply with Agriculture Victoria’s movement conditions to leave a PIZ; AND
- comply with entry conditions applicable to a PIBZ in the South Australian Plant Quarantine Standard Condition 7, which are the same as requirements for a PIZ.
- Recognise that if you are importing regulated items into South Australia from an interstate phylloxera quarantine zone, it is mandatory to treat these regulated items before leaving the interstate phylloxera quarantine zone, not upon arrival into South Australia.
- Ensure current and future contractor engagement includes questions about movements into and out of this PIBZ.
- Refer to Vinehealth Australia’s ‘Biosecurity Planning for Vineyard Owners Hosting Visitors’ fact sheet for best practice information on managing footwear and clothing.
Maps
- Click here for Agriculture Victoria’s map of the current Maroondah PIZ with the proposed boundary extension.
- Click here for a map of Phylloxera Management Zones for South Australia’s Plant Quarantine Standard including the current PIBZ area.
What next?
Vinehealth Australia will notify industry upon gazettal of the extended Maroondah PIZ boundary.
This latest detection is yet another reminder for industry and government that phylloxera remains an active pest of concern for the viticulture industries, and that the current national management system in place for phylloxera is ineffective in curbing its spread. Despite work being initiated to review this system, progress is very slow.
A new national management system must incorporate current pest knowledge, contemporary biosecurity thinking and the latest science on disinfestation, surveillance and detection. These underlying principles are crucial to protecting the future sustainability of all vineyards; particularly those planted on own roots, and most vulnerable to phylloxera.
Enquiries
Please contact PIRSA Biosecurity SA on 08 8207 7814 or PIRSA.PlantHealthMarketAccess@sa.gov.au.