Myrtle rust on Rhodamnia spp. foliage.
Photo © Biosecurity Queensland

Myrtle rust is back in the news. Unfortunately it is now recorded from 685 sites in 14 different council areas. It is particularly widespread in south east Queensland from Gold Coast City and Scenic Rim Regional in the south to Fraser Coast in the north and west to Toowoomba Regional. Recent occurrences have been detected in both Cairns and Townsville at four nurseries. Fortunately it appears that the myrtle rust has been contained and not spread from those sites.

Acknowledging that myrtle rust is now well established, the pest quarantine area that was declared for myrtle rust in December 2010 and the disease notifiable status were both revoked on 14 October 2011. This means that there is no longer a legal requirement to report sightings of the rust to Biosecurity Queensland. Wildlife Queensland has grave reservations about this action. However Biosecurity Queensland is still encouraging people to report sightings either by phoning DEEDI customer Service Centre on 13 25 23 or by filling in the online reporting form

As Biosecurity Queensland points out, knowing where the rust is and what plants it is affecting assists Biosecurity Queensland to develop management strategies and better target our information and advice to affected businesses and communities. However under the Plant Protection Act 1989 it is an offence for a person, in trade and commence, to sell or dispose of a plant the person knows or reasonably believes may be infested with myrtle rust. A compliance program is in place.

Myrtle rust on Rhodamnia spp. foliage.
Photo © Biosecurity Queensland

Biosecurity Queensland have not taken their eyes off the problem during the cool winter months. In fact there is now in place the Myrtle Rust Program with the objective to help Queenslanders adapt to living with myrtle rust.
The objectives of the program are to:

• Ensure people are aware of myrtle rust and know what to do
• Assist industry to trade and operate
• Learn more about myrtle rust
• Limit impacts on the natural and built environmental assets as much as practical.

To assist in achieving some of these objectives a workshop of nearly 50 scientists, researchers and other interested parties from around the country was held to discuss current and proposed research opportunities. Knowledge gaps were defined and it is hoped a number of collaborative research opportunities will flow from the workshop.

It is now recognised by the relevant authorities that it is not technically or economically feasible to eradicate myrtle rust in Queensland and it is not possible to contain the rust within known distribution limits. Despite this, every attempt is being made to slow the spread while Biosecurity Queensland works to develop adaptive strategies and longer term management solutions to assist people to live with the disease and to minimise the impact on the environment and the economy.

Wildlife Queensland encourages everyone to inform Biosecurity Queensland of any suspected occurrences of this disease we all now have to learn to live with.

More Information

• Myrtle Rust – back in the news! - October 2011
• Myrtle Rust continues to make its presence felt - August 2011
• Myrtle Rust looks to be slowing - July 2011
• Myrtle Rust: Will this invasion ever stop? - May 2011
• Myrtle Rust: an ongoing challenge - April 2011
• Myrtle Rust continues to spread - March 2011
• Myrtle Rust on the move! - February 2011

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.