Councils desperate for funding as burden of borer passed on
The State Government last week gave up on its failed polyphagous shot-hole borer eradication plan, saying that it is no longer a feasible goal, and will switch to a 'management strategy'.
But the new approach has received backlash from local governments, who say the bug burden has been dropped on their doorstep, without warning.
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Speaking to PerthNow, Subiaco mayor David McMullen said the City of Subiaco, where 169 trees have already fallen foul of the borer and had to be removed, was disappointed at the decision to stop the eradication fight. Shire of Peppermint Grove CEO Don Burnett Credit: MaryMills / Kalgoorlie Miner
'As the decision is reportedly based on science, only other scientists can really unpack the correctness of the conclusions and assumptions,' he said.
'But for residents such as those in our community, we are left asking whether our State Government could or should have done more to achieve eradication while it still remained a technical possibility.'
In leafy Peppermint Grove, where the axe has been taken to more than 200 trees, shire chief Don Burnett echoed Mr McMullen's concerns and the fallout posed for local councils.
'Trying to co-ordinate a management program for PSHB across 30 metropolitan local governments, all with differing priorities, budgets, resource capacity and differing degrees of impact by PSHB, is not an effective way to try and control the borer,' he said.
The Town of Cambridge, like Subiaco and Peppermint Grove, said their staff were not consulted prior to the State Government change and announcement. Subiaco Mayor David McMullen. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian
More than 2000 trees have been cut down across the western suburbs, with six of the area's seven local government districts experiencing rapid tree deaths caused by the invasive beetle species.
A $7.2 million Tree Recovery program funded by the State Government recently opened up to local governments to help pay for replacement projects, nearly a year after it was announced.
The program provides up to $1140 per PSHB-affected tree removed, covering the cost of one primary replacement tree, two additional trees, and associated establishment items.
But WA Local Government Association president Karen Chappel said more funding was needed for local governments now that eradication efforts had ceased.
'This failure will have significant implications for local government, who are already spending millions to control the polyphagous shot-hole borer and increase tree canopy, and will now face the additional, ongoing costs of managing or removing infected and dying trees in public parks and streets,' she said.
Mr McMullen said Subiaco was already 'very concerned' about the financial implications the change of response will have.
'While limited funding is currently available for tree replacement, there is no funding being offered for ongoing management, treatment and corrective actions,' he added.' Hyde Park wher trees are bieng removed for Polyphagous shot-hole borer Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian
'More funding is urgently needed. Otherwise, we will see a significant burden passed on to local governments, as well as private landholders, who will not all have the resources, expertise or the means to undertake sufficient corrective actions.'
The Opposition blamed the change of direction on an inadequate early response to the borer from the Government.
'This is an abject failure on behalf of the State Government, they have raised the white flag,' Opposition agriculture spokesman Lachlan Hunter said.
'Hindsight is a wonderful thing, if this act was properly responded to with proper funding then maybe we could have stopped the infestation.
'We have some of the most productive citrus and avocado farms in the nation and if this shot-hole borer contaminates places just 20 to 30km around our Perth foothills, it'll see devastating effects on the horticulture and agriculture industry.'
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