No Images? Click here Issue 1, December 2018Message from Bruce Christie, Deputy Director GeneralWelcome to the first edition of our revamped Biosecurity newsletter. Biosecurity is about protecting our environment, economy and community from the negative impacts of pests, diseases and weeds. So that we all continue to enjoy local food and produce and spending time in our unique environments, we need your help. Our new quarterly newsletter will help you be more biosecurity aware. It will help you know the latest bugs, bacteria, pests, diseases and weeds that are threatening NSW and what steps you can take to be biosecure. As we head into summer, you are likely to be spending more time outside. This is a great time to weed your garden, go wildlife watching, be on a bug hunt or wet a line using the right bait. We hope you all enjoy a happy festive season and enjoy reading the first edition of our newsletter. Remember, you can play a role and join us in our efforts to keep pests, diseases and weeds out of NSW. Yours sincerely Bruce Christie Latest news Cherries have long been helping spread Christmas cheer in Australia, and now, for the first time, mainland Australian cherries are being air-freighted into one of the most lucrative export markets in the world: China. Traceability on Travelling Stock Reserves In the event of an emergency or a biosecurity outbreak, livestock on Travelling Stock Reserves (TSR) in the Riverina region will now be able to be located within minutes thanks to the use of radio collars. I’m so sorry! I had no idea I was buying water weeds Buying plants for your fish tank or pond online may mean you get more than you bargained for. Some people sell water weeds online and it is important you stay savvy and know you are not introducing a big problem for our waterways in future. Importing fodder from interstate The current drought has seen an increase in the amount of fodder sourced from interstate. An unfortunate side effect of bringing in this feed is that unwanted pests, pathogens, weeds and contaminants can come along for the ride as well. Biosecurity alerts African swine fever ASF is not currently in Australia, and we don’t want it as it is a highly infectious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs of all ages. Dreaming of a white spot free Christmas For many of us the Christmas break means time with family and friends sharing a bowl of delicious local prawns. But if you use prawns intended for human consumption as bait you risk spreading serious disease in our waterways. On track in yellow crazy ant eradication effort Significant progress has been made in the effort to eradicate yellow crazy ant from Lismore. The exotic ant was first detected in Lismore in May 2018 after a vigilant member of the public reported suspicious activity to the NSW DPI Biosecurity Hotline. Summer seasonal pests and diseases - be on the lookout! The hot and dry conditions bring a new set of pests and diseases to be on the lookout for. Click on the links below to see what you need to keep an eye out for this summer. As temperatures continue to rise this summer, NSW freight and logistics businesses, producers and the general public are reminded to keep a look out for the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). We are luck in Australia, as BMSB hasn’t established itself. In the northern hemisphere, it has spread rapidly by ‘hitchhiking’ in freight vehicles, cargo containers and other packaging materials. This year and last, a number of BMSB have attempted to enter Australia in containers through our international freight and trade. BMSB is a highly mobile and invasive plant pest that can move from host to host during warmer months, when it is feeding and breeding. It eats a large number of plants and would cause serious damage to our backyard gardens and horticultural and vegetable industries. Early detection is the key to stopping BMSB from taking hold in NSW. The Australian Government has stepped up efforts, with new national border quarantine controls and enhanced inspection of cargo, however we are asking transporters, farmers and residents around our ports, warehouses and intermodals to remain on alert and keep a close watch out for these bugs. Please report any suspicious sightings immediately to the Exotic Plant Pest hotline on 1800 084 881. The adult BMSB is the size of a five cent coin with white bands on the antennae, sides of the abdomen and on the legs. Stink bugs emit a pungent odour when disturbed. The months from September to April are the bug’s favourite time to travel. Other seasonal pests and diseases: Project updates Exercise Orange Juice was held in Griffith on 26 October with the aim of testing NSW’s ability to respond to a simulated outbreak of citrus canker. Have you heard? It's cicada season!Nothing signals the arrival of summer like the sound of cicadas. Cicadas are the loudest insects in the world and with over 800 species in Australia, the only threat these distinctive insects pose is to our hearing. Cicadas begin life as a rice-shaped egg which is deposited by the female in a groove she makes in a tree limb. The cicada hatches from the egg and begins to feed on fluids from the tree. The young cicada falls to the ground where it begins to dig until it finds roots to feed on. Typically, it will start with smaller grass roots and work its way up to the roots of its host tree.Having little inclination to sleep or hibernate during the two to 17 years spent underground, cicadas instead spend their time being very active, tunnelling and feeding. When the time is right, sometime after rain between September and November, they dig themselves out and emerge from the ground as nymphs. Nymphs then climb the nearest tree available and shed their exoskeleton. Once their new wings and body are ready, they begin their brief adult life and search for a mate. The 120 decibel song of the male Cicada not only helps them to attract a partner to begin the cycle of life again, but sung in chorus, helps make it harder for predators such as birds, bats, spiders, wasps, ants and tree crickets locate an individual. Congratulations to a real life Biosecurity Warrior Matthew McGrath - An innovative and practical approach to protecting the local environment has been recognised in the Invasive Species Management section of Local Government Excellence in the Environment Awards this month. Matthew McGrath is a Vegetation Management Officer with Wagga Wagga City Council and was nominated for his innovative weed hygiene station. Matthew McGrath, Vegetation Management Officer, Wagga Wagga City Council (right) with Pete Turner, Research Leader Invasive Plants & Animals, NSW DPI. Photo by EventPix Wagga Wagga City Council manages a number of heavily used recreation reserves where highly invasive coolatai grass and cane needle grass had become a problem. The team monitored the problem and decided that better biosecurity was needed to help stop the spread. Matthew and his council colleagues set about finding a solution and what they came up with was the simple yet elegant weed hygiene station. It has a duster to clean down footwear, clothing, pet fur, bike parts and a walkway metal grate that the boot scrubber is attached to. This stops unwanted hitchhikers like seeds moving into new areas. The most important part is the sump that sits underneath the grate. It catches vegetation, seed and soil, so that harmful invasive weed seeds can’t spread. Council can also monitor what is being caught in the sump, helping with monitoring efforts. It has no moving parts, so requires no maintenance. It is durable enough to handle the extremes Wagga weather throws at it and cost under $2000 to build. Importantly, the cleaning station is a visual reminder for the community of weed management and incorporates biosecurity into the everyday routine of reserve users. The station is the start of a much larger program carrying the theme of "Biosecurity Starts at the Gate. Check your Tread to Reduce the Spread" and the council plans to install a number of other weed hygiene stations over the coming months. Matthew and Wagga Wagga City Council were recognised at a ceremony held at Olympic Park in Sydney on 3 December 2018. Staff spotlight - Nathan Cutter Role: Technical Specialist Vertebrate Pests, Invasive Plants & Animals, Biosecurity & Food Safety What are three words you’d use to describe your current job? Dynamic. Team based. Fascinating What do you like most about your job/working at NSW DPI? Working with teams made up of talented and dedicated people that are keen to collaborate. What are some of the challenges of your job? Communicating government policy in a form that effectively engages with the community. What project are you currently working on? A project to increase public awareness and capacity to manage red-eared slider turtles (a non-native invasive pest animal from the USA). What are your top three career highlights?
How do you maintain work/life balance? Orange is a great location to work and live. Quick commute to work, great access to gyms and pools through Fitness Passport, awesome locally produced food, beer, cider and wine to enjoy on the weekend. Before working at NSW DPI, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve had? I once worked on the roof of a CBD building in Melbourne extracting and purifying shark bile. What’s your favourite travel destination? I like Thredbo. You’re visiting a National park where you can ski, mountain bike, swim, gym, go to the movies, have a great meal, see a band and visit the pub all in one day and in a tiny village. What book did you last read? Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles What does leadership mean to you? Being able to communicate a clear, compelling vision of what is to be accomplished. What’s on your bucket list?
What are your hopes for our industry? That biosecurity becomes as normal to our community as wearing a seatbelt. With the increase in community awareness and engagement with biosecurity that I’ve witnessed since the introduction of the NSW Biosecurity Act, I am extremely hopeful that we can prevent the establishment of a new non-native pest animal in NSW. Blast from the past Pest control in an apple orchard using a horse drawn sprayer. Note the lack of personal protective equipment. A more modern approach. General hygiene - farm biosecurity Check out this great video from Animal Health Australian and Plant Health Australia on how to protect a property from the entry and spread of pests and diseases. Upcoming training and events Training for Abattoir, Knackery and Saleyard Workers Weekly Drought Drop in Sessions Women in Agriculture North West LLS Camden Show 2019 Australian Biosecurity Symposium Vetlearn- Veterinarians, Hobby Farmers and Backyard Livestock Online Biosecurity Course for Beekeepers Stay in touch If you are not the original recipient of this newsletter and would like to be sent updates you can register online. |