On 24 September 2025, South Australia’s grape and wine industry took a major step forward in biosecurity readiness with the first introduction of the new Phylloxera Outbreak Management Plan. Developed by Vinehealth Australia in collaboration with PIRSA, the plan was tested during a high-impact preparedness exercise designed to build awareness and prepare stakeholders for regional workshops starting in October 2025.
The event brought together national and state industry representatives, biosecurity experts from South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, and lead phylloxera researchers. Their collective input will help shape the next iteration of the Phylloxera Outbreak Management Plan, due for review in 2027.
Key Outcomes and Insights
Strong Industry Engagement
Participants actively contributed to discussions on outbreak response, communications, and long-term management strategies, highlighting the importance of collaboration.
Communication Clarity
Calls were made for consistent terminology, timely updates, and multilingual communication strategies. Managing misinformation and protecting regional branding were identified as critical priorities.
Operational Readiness
Concerns were raised around zone boundary decisions, machinery movement, grape crushing logistics, and disinfestation protocols—key areas for refining operational plans.
Industry Reference Group (IRG)
A pre-established, diverse, and trained IRG was recommended to support decision-making, communications, and stakeholder engagement during an outbreak.
Cross-State Collaboration
Participants encouraged learning from the experiences of other states, to strengthen South Australia’s preparedness.
Recommended Actions for Industry
To ensure readiness, stakeholders are encouraged to:
- Update biosecurity plans and contact details with Vinehealth Australia.
- Ensure there is good regional representation as trained Industry Liaison Officers.
- Educate staff and contractors. See : Resources – Vinehealth Australia
- Participate in upcoming regional exercises.
What’s Next?
Regional Workshops begin in October across South Australian wine regions, offering hands-on training and scenario planning. An Industry Reference Manual and outbreak response tools are also in development.
Stakeholders are invited to continue providing feedback, with the next formal review of the plan scheduled for 2027. This ongoing collaboration will help ensure South Australia remains a leader in biosecurity management for the wine industry.