Latest news with #PiaScanlon
Perth Now
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
More than 100 trees at Perth Zoo felled by tiny pest
A bitter argument has broken out in State Parliament as questions mount over the trail of damage left behind by the shot hole borer and whether it could have been stopped. Labor MP Cassie Rowe called Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter 'rude', as he interrupted a response to ask whether 'gag orders' were imposed on local governments. 'Seriously? The member is so arrogant he will not even listen to members,' Ms Rowe said. She later accused Mr Hunter of 'mansplaining', during questions over sheep numbers and the impact of the Federal Government's looming live export ban on an electronic tracing system. 'This is just a soliloquy from the member,' Ms Rowe said. 'You're just mansplaining to us and there is no relevance to this.' The extent of devastation inflicted by the invasive beetle was earlier revealed in Budget estimates, with officials confirming 115 trees had be cut down at Perth Zoo, 99 trees were felled at Kings Park and 15 trees lost on Rottnest island. Another 220 trees have been lost in metropolitan parks, including Herdsman Lake. The polyphagous shot-hole borer has been wreaking havoc, forcing the mass cutting of some of the city's favourite canopies. Pia Scanlon Credit: Pia Scanlon / TheWest 'A lot of those were very small trees, but nonetheless any tree is a loss,' Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions director-general Stuart Smith told Parliament on Tuesday night. 'Some were substantial trees, so those ones are being replaced. A bit like in the other locations, they are being replaced with natives where appropriate.' In total, more than 4000 trees have been removed as a result of the shot-hole borer with the majority of those on residential land. Perth Zoo said the 115 trees lost to the borer are a small percentage of the site's tree canopy and a remediation program is being put in place. 'Perth Zoo's tree population is in excess of 1700,' DBCA director Danielle Henry said. This does not appear to be a silver bullet, but we will continue to try different technologies. 'Our gardens are as loved by the people of Perth as our animals. It's an urban city oasis . . . The State Government has provided funding for Perth Zoo to secure mature tree stock.' Department officials told a Budget estimates hearing that a tree replacement program at Perth Zoo is 'going well' and that the rate of tree loss has slowed, though that is likely only a temporary reprieve. 'That may also be partly due to the time of year, because the polyphagous shot-hole borer does not cope particularly well in colder climates, so the spread is not so high at this time of the year,' Mr Smith said. He conceded chemical treatments have not worked. 'None of them have yet been proven successful,' Mr Smith said. 'This does not appear to be a silver bullet, but we will continue to try different technologies.' The Opposition has accused the Cook Government of being slow to react, after it was confirmed WA will transition to a 'management' strategy instead because eradication is no longer 'technically feasible'. 'They didn't listen and now they've raised the white flag,' Liberal leader Basil Zempilas said on Wednesday. 'This is a biosecurity disaster of their making. They've spend tens of millions of dollars of taxpayers' money to no avail. The result is that Perth has lost thousands of trees including mature trees in iconic locations. 'And local governments are left holding the baby, trying to desperately control this pest.' Mr Zempilas repeated calls for Agriculture minister Jackie Jarvis to be sacked for 'mishandling' the issue. In Parliament on Tuesday night, Nationals MP Kirrilee Warr pressed the Government on when the biosecurity risk was first identified, but parliamentary secretary Kim Giddens couldn't provide a date. 'I do not have that exact level of detail,' she said. 'I would hesitate to even give an approximate. It is a question the member could consider putting on notice.' A $150 rebate for households to plant trees is part of plans to boost Perth's tree canopy, but no date has been set to roll that out. 'We are very close to launch,' Mr Smith said.
Perth Now
29-06-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Concerns arise over future costs to manage invasive pest
The cities of Stirling and Joondalup are among several councils concerned they'll be left to foot the bill on managing the invasive polyphagous shot-hole borer after the State Government announced it was shifting away from eradicating the destructive pest. The National Management Group met last week and decided the eradication of the shot-hole borer in WA is no longer achievable, based on expert advice. Since being detected in 2021, the invasive pest has forced the removal of more than 4700 infested trees to date. The WA Local Government Association says it is deeply disappointed by the decision to shift from eradication to management and is calling for a long-term funding commitment from the State Government. 'WALGA has long been concerned about the effectiveness of the State's PSHB response and has been calling for greater transparency, research into control methods and more community education and engagement,' WALGA president Karen Chappel said. 'This failure will have significant implications for local government, who are already spending millions to control PSHB 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.' Following last week's decision, a new national Transition to Management plan is now being finalised, supported by a $26.5 million allocation in the State Budget to urban tree canopy and Treebates programs in a bid to manage the impact of the shot-hole borer. The State Government is hoping to slow and minimise the risk of it spreading beyond local government boundaries and the metropolitan area. The invasive species was first detected in Perth in 2021. Credit: Pia Scanlon In the City of Stirling, where more than 108 trees have been cleared because of infestation, officials are concerned about the potential costs and impacts ahead. 'The city shares WALGA's disappointment about the transition to PSHB management and its concern about the future funding responsibility for that management, particularly after the 18-month transition period due to start on 1 July 2025,' a spokesperson said. 'Clear support and direction are needed from the State Government for the local government sector to be able to plan and deliver effective management of PSHB to protect the Perth-Peel urban forest beyond the transition period.' In the City of Joondalup, where the pest hasn't yet caused widespread damage, CEO James Pearson said the council had been working closely with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to monitor and manage risks but warned that given the future spread of the pest, management costs could escalate rapidly, putting extra financial strain on the city. 'There will be financial implications for the city if local governments become responsible for managing PSHB-infected trees in public parks and streets, particularly as the future spread of PSHB is unknown,' Mr Pearson said. 'The city will undertake an audit of its street tree population to identify locations of the current reproductive hosts. The city will continue to plant trees not identified as PSHB reproductive hosts and will investigate preventative treatments.' On Friday, the City of Wanneroo confirmed the pest had reached its jurisdiction after reporting its first confirmed case The State Government has committed an additional $62.6m to biosecurity response activities from 2024-25 to 2027-28, along with $2.17m to fund research projects, including chemical treatments aimed at limiting the spread of the shot-hole borer. WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis believes the State has a strong foundation to manage the pest moving forward, as the infestation remains confined to the metropolitan area. 'We will continue to look for alternative solutions by supporting local scientists to undertake more research under WA conditions,' Ms Jarvis said. 'The more we can learn about this pest, the better equipped we will be to protect and support our State's tree canopy and agricultural industry.'
Perth Now
27-06-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Wanneroo reports first case of destructive shot-hole borer
The destructive polyphagous shot-hole borer has reached Perth's far northern suburbs, with the City of Wanneroo now reporting its first case. News of the detection comes just over a week after the state government announced it would transition from eradicating to managing the pest, which was first detected in Perth in 2021. The City of Wanneroo said they're working with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to implement a Tree Management Plan for the affected tree - which is in the suburb of Wanneroo - and will keep a close watch on the area in the coming weeks. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Wanneroo Mayor Linda Aitken said the city is committed to taking swift action to prevent the pest's spread. 'The PSHB could significantly impact the City of Wanneroo's urban canopy if it were to become established here,' she said. 'It's important that we all check our trees for signs and report any suspected sightings, to allow DPIRD to investigate. 'Protecting and increasing our canopy cover and vegetation is a key goal for the City, as set out in our Urban Forest Strategy.' As Perth's most northern metropolitan local government, the City of Wanneroo covers 685.8 square kilometres, stretching from Girrawheen to Two Rocks. In the neighbouring council, the City of Joondalup has also confirmed three PSHB cases on council-managed land and is continuing to work with DPIRD to these infestations. News of the infestation comes just a week after the state government announced it would be transitioning from eradication to management of the pest. Credit: Pia Scanlon / The West Following the decision to end eradication efforts, the State Government has committed an additional $62.6 million to biosecurity responses and $2.17 million to research projects to help curb and treat infestations, including chemical treatments aimed at managing the spread of the shot-hole borer. WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis believes the State has a strong foundation to manage the pest moving forward, as the infestation remains confined to the metropolitan area. 'We will continue to look for alternative solutions by supporting local scientists to undertake more research under WA conditions,' Ms Jarvis said. 'The more we can learn about this pest, the better equipped we will be to protect and support our State's tree canopy and agricultural industry.' For more information on PSHB and the signs to watch for, DPIRD is encouraging residents to visit their website and use the MyPestGuide app to report any suspected sightings.
Perth Now
07-06-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Why councils in Perth's south are lining up for tree funding
As the destructive polyphagous shot-hole borer continues to run rampant in Perth, local governments are hurrying to apply for the first round of WA Tree Recovery Program funding. The $7.2 million WA Tree Recovery Program was announced by the State Government last August but the money, which will help impacted councils plant up to three trees for every one that has been lost to the invasive pest, is only now available. It is no surprise the City of Canning is champing at the bit to see some money as it counts the cost of already losing 172 trees to the invasive pest. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'The city will be applying for WA Tree Recovery Program funding to help offset the loss of tree canopy,' mayor Patrick Hall confirmed on Tuesday. The polyphagous shot-hole borer has been wreaking havoc, forcing the mass cutting of some of the city's favourite canopies. Credit: Pia Scanlon / TheWest 'Our philosophy is to try and install replacement trees near to the location where canopy has been lost.' The City of Melville, which has lost 149 trees to the borer, is also likely to apply for first round funding as it works through the criteria before the July 7 deadline. 'We recognise the importance of the urban forest tree canopy and so we welcome this opportunity from WALGA, which will help us to replace trees due to the PSHB infestation,' CEO Gail Bowman said. The City of Fremantle and the Town of East Fremantle have lost a comparably smaller number of trees to the PSHB but also plan to apply. Like Melville, those councils are in the midst of reviewing the grant criteria to assess eligibility. The City of Cockburn is the region's only local authority not applying this year. 'As the city has only removed five PSHB-affected trees to date, the city's current tree planting program has been able to mitigate the associated canopy loss so will not apply for round one funding,' Cockburn's director of infrastructure Anton Lees said. 'The city may apply to next year's funding round ... for the predicted removal of more than 60 trees in Bibra Lake and Yangebup, where tree canopy is still being assessed.'
