Help stop the spread of Queensland fruit fly The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has declared a Quarantine Area to contain the spread of the Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), which has been detected in nearby Willagee and Palmyra. Qfly is a significant pest of horticulture and home gardens that infests more than 300 types of fruit, including fruiting vegetables like chillies, capsicums and tomatoes. Residents and businesses in the Red Zone, which includes Coolbellup and North Lake, must take action immediately. What you must do if your property is located in the Red Zone: Remove all fruit and fruiting vegetables – regardless of maturity – from Qfly host plants as well as fallen fruit. We understand that removing all host fruit from your garden is a sacrifice – it's a temporary measure but a powerful one designed to limit the risk to your garden in the long term. See the full list of host plants Homegrown fruit and fruiting vegetables inside the Red Zone can be consumed or treated by cooking, processing, freezing or solarising (secure in a black plastic bag and place on a hard surface in direct sunlight for more than seven days). Changes to waste collection Fruit not consumed or treated must be disposed of by securing in a black plastic bag and disposing in the general waste bin – but not into the recycling or food organics, garden organics (FOGO) bin. Moving fruit and host plants Residents and commercial operators in the Red and Orange zones wishing to move fruit and host plants within or outside of the zones are urged to consult the DPIRD website for movement requirements Both homegrown and commercial fruit coming into or passing through the Quarantine Area must be securely covered to ensure the produce does not become infested. Find out which zone you are in and what you need to do to help eradicate the pest via the DPIRD website. Thank you for your cooperation. | 