The Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment department had already started developing a biosecurity plan for the Bass Strait islands before Tasmania’s Queensland fruit fly incursion in January.
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This year’s incursion brought the focus on Tasmania’s biosecurity to the fore, with the spotlight firmly shining on the Furneaux Islands where the insect was first discovered in January.
A draft Biosecurity Management Plan for King Island and the Furneaux Islands has been developed in collaboration with the island communities, industries and the Tasmanian government.
This draft will go through a final round of consultation in 2018-19.
It covers both terrestrial and marine biosecurity matters, a department spokesperson said.
“The draft will be released soon for a final round of consultation before it is finalised,” the spokesperson said.
Flinders Island and the Furneaux Group “had a significant amount of biosecurity activity” during summer and autumn 2018 as a result of Queensland fruit fly being discovered at a range of premises, the department’s annual report states.
“Government, industry and the community worked together to effectively respond to this incursion,” the report said.
Almost 10 months after the first incursion on Flinders Island’s, the department spokesman said the island’s biosecurity presence was “appropriate for this stage of the response”.
“In addition to the full time biosecurity officer based on the island, Biosecurity Tasmania representatives regularly visit and work directly with the Flinders Council, community and retailers as part of the Fruit Fly Response,” the spokesman said.
King Island has one full-time senior biosecurity officer and recruitment has started for a second, part-time officer.
“The recruitment process is underway and we expect to see the new King Island officer start by the end of the calendar year, or early in 2019,” the spokesperson said.
In addition to the new biosecurity officer positions in the Bass Strait islands, the 2018 Tasmanian State Budget included funding for six new positions within Biosecurity Tasmania.
“Three of these positions are biosecurity officers who will undertake additional inspections,” the spokesman said.
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Johanna Baker-Dowdell
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
