It has been almost three years since Heinz and Ronald Schwind had to watch as Biosecurity Tasmania staff destroyed hundreds of blueberry rust-infected plants at their Barrington property, but the father and son are still emotional about the loss.
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Both men spoke at the first public hearings of the Legislative Council Inquiry into Blueberry Rust in Launceston on Thursday.
Ronald Schwind detailed his loss of more than $20,000 income over the 2014/15 blueberry season after the plants were destroyed at Mountain Fruit Berry Farm, but also highlighted the ongoing cost to his business.
“We picked 1.3 tonnes of blueberries in 2012 and were expecting five tonnes [this season] if the plants were still in the ground,” Mr Schwind said.
“This is the fourth season since eradication and we’ll have two tonne this year. That’s $40,000 I’ve lost this season already,” he said.
In December 2014 Biosecurity Tasmania staff supervised Ronald Schwind spraying the plants to contain a suspected blueberry rust incursion and taped off three of the four blocks at Mountain Fruit Berry Farm, telling the growers they would return within 10-14 days to carry out further inspections, Mr Schwind said.
However, staff returned on Christmas Eve 2014 and gave the Schwinds a folder containing photos of rust-infected blueberry leaves as evidence of the incursion at their property.
“There was no consultation with us. We were surprised on Christmas Eve with an eradication notice,” Mr Schwind said.
“No formal laboratory report was given to confirm [the photographs were taken] on our property. I’ve never seen the orange pustules [on our blueberry plants]. I don’t don’t think I had [blueberry rust],” he said.
When asked about how Biosecurity Tasmania staff handled the situation during the investigation and eradication process, Heinz Schwind said they had an “aggressive, nasty approach” and Ronald Schwind described the staff as “like inexperienced cowboys”.
A Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment spokesman said the department would answer questions raised by stakeholders and parliamentary members through this inquiry.
“The department has provided a submission and agency staff will also be appearing to answer questions and provide further information as part of this process,” the spokesman said.
The other speakers for the first hearing were Frank Giles from St Marys Seaview Farm, Rachel de Wit and Steve Clements from Aviemore Farm at Gravelly Beach, Karen Brock from Brocklands Nursery at Winkleigh, Kent and Alyssa Mainwaring from Bilambil Berry Farm at Turners Marsh, Steve Beams and Adelle Lynch from DazzlerRange Organic Berry Farm at Yorktown, Trish Macfarlane and Andrew Ricketts.
Windermere independent MLC Ivan Dean is chairing the inquiry, which includes deputy chair Rosevears independent MLC Kerry Finch and Launceston independent MLC Rosemary Armitage, Apsley indepedent MLC Tania Rattray and Elwick Labor MLC Josh Willie as committee members.