Page 16 The Moorabool News – 9 November, 2021
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Check for pests in parcels Having online shopping orders arrive has been one of the more exciting events in Victorians’ lives throughout covid pandemic lockdowns – but few of us think about the stowaways that could be inside. Agriculture Victoria has put out a warning to online shoppers with Christmas less than two months away, to check packages for pests that could be hitching a ride. Various pests from overseas pose a serious threat to Victoria’s agriculture industry, which produces the most food and fibre in Australia. Victoria’s Chief Plant Health Officer, Rosa Crnov, said the sooner an unwanted pest is reported, the higher the chance is that it can be stopped from spreading to other areas. “Exotic plant pests such as brown marmorated stink bug, khapra beetle, exotic ants and snails, can go unnoticed due to their small size and hitch a ride in packages, especially in overseas mail," she said. “Exotic electric ants and fire ants can also hitch a ride in domestic mail and are very aggressive, as opposed to common ants in Victoria that usually run away from disturbances. If undetected, these pests can threaten Vic-
Council’s 10-year plan By Lachlan Ellis
Electric ants. Photo - Alexander Wild and Queensland Government. toria’s $14 billion food and fibre export market.” Online shopping has grown by an average of 31.8 per cent in the year to 30 June 2021, but in Victoria it grew even more at 49.8 per cent. In that same year, Agriculture Victoria received 797 reports of exotic plant and bee pests. “In November last year, a Bayswater business emailed photos of a strange-looking bug to Agriculture Victoria after discovering the insect
in an airfreight package,” Ms Crnov said. “The insect was confirmed as brown marmorated stink bug — a high priority for Australian biosecurity. The brown marmorated stink bug can attack more than 300 types of fruit trees, ornamental trees, vegetable crops and gardens, so this was a very significant detection.” Despite Australia’s strict import conditions, sometimes pests can slip through. Freedom from pests and disease is a major reason why
Australian produce is such high quality, and is highly sought after overseas. But Ms Crmov said anyone, farmer or not, can do their part. “Everyone can play a role in protecting our farmers, environment and community from biosecurity threats by reporting anything unusual," she said. For more information on priority insects and mites, visit www.agriculture.vic. gov.au and search ‘Priority pest insects and mites’.
A 10-year financial plan for Moorabool Shire has been approved, with Councillors voting unanimously in favour. The ’10-Year Financial Plan 2021 – 2031’ came before the Special Meeting of Council (SMC) on October 27, with the Local Government Act 2020 requiring all councils to adopt a Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) by 31 October. The LTFP was first endorsed at Council’s 1 September meeting this year and put out for 28 days of public consultation, before returning to Council for a final vote last Wednesday. Though it is a 10-year plan, according to the Council planners’ report it will “be updated on a rolling basis to take changing circumstances into account and to maintain financial sustainability”. The plan highlights the “unprecedented and sustained growth” of Moorabool, which “presents significant infrastructure challenges for both existing gap funding and new infrastructure”. In the next 20 years, it states, Moorabool’s population is forecast to double. The recommendation to approve the plan was moved by Cr Edwards and seconded by Cr Munari, with all Councillors present then voting in favour. To read the 10-Year Financial Plan 2021 – 2031, and see how it aims to tackle Moorabool’s projected population growth, visit www.moorabool.vic.gov.au, search ‘Agenda and Minutes – 2021’, then click ‘27 October’ and finally, ‘SMC Attachments’.
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- Serrated Tussock takes over whole paddocks -
Huge seed production, reduced property value, stock can’t eat it.
Identification: Many tussocks look similar.
Native Tussocks have slightly flattened, perfectly smooth stems and are already seeding prolifically. Serrated Tussocks have round stems (when you run your finger and thumb from tip to base you can feel a slight resistance) and seeds from late October to mid-November, depending on your elevation.
Action: Get rid of Serrated Tussock NOW, before it seeds. Talk to your herbicide supplier about how to control it. Join Pentland Hills Landcare and use their spray equipment. Phone Peter on 0427 672 612 for more information on your local Landcare group.