As a follow on from our most recent varroa mite update, I am writing to our members to advise of changes to the Queensland border and subsequent movement of livestock (queens and hives).

For members that may have missed our last communication, the NSW DPI made a declaration of freedom from varroa mite in the General Emergency Zone (or blue zone as it is more commonly known to industry). This declaration was agreed to by state jurisdictions. The declaration has now enacted a staged re-opening of borders allowing the movement of hives and queens under a strict permit and compliance system. 

If you may have missed this announcement, please click here to read the update from AHBIC.

We are pleased to advise that representatives from DAF will be prioritising permits for our stranded industry colleagues in the first instance. Prioritisation of these beekeepers will enable almost 4,000 stranded hives with a pathway to enter their state of origin. Entry permits will also alleviate significant emotional and operational fatigue, as well as financial burden from our friends who have been in limbo since the detection of the mite in New South Wales. 

As we enter the next phase in the response to varroa we remind our members that if you are considering any movements across the Queensland border with New South Wales you will need to comply with permit arrangements and conditions in both NSW and QLD.

Moving bees into Queensland can only be undertaken if you have applied for and received an approved permit from Biosecurity Queensland. 

Please find below communication from Biosecurity Queensland in relation to the staged re-opening of Queensland borders under the new permit system. 

Varroa mite – moving hives into Queensland

NSW General Emergency Zone declared free from varroa mite

Beekeepers can now apply for a permit to move European honey bees and other related materials into Queensland from the NSW General Emergency Zone (GEZ) after this zone was declared free of varroa mite (Varroa destructor).

A permit is required for anyone bringing bees, hives, used beekeeping equipment or bee products (including unprocessed honey), into any part of Queensland from any state or territory. All permits will be subject to strict permit conditions and active compliance checks.

Permit applications from Queensland registered beekeepers located in the NSW General Zone (Blue zone) will be prioritised and a dedicated case manager will be assigned to manage the process.

In the coming weeks, owners of non-Queensland registered hives will also be able to apply for a permit to enter.

You can apply online for a biosecurity instrument permit or by calling the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.

Check hives and report results

All beekeepers are encouraged to check their hives and report results to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, using the Bee 123 online form, or by calling 13 25 23.

Report any checks you have made on your hives, even if you do not find any suspect mites. The data gathered from checking hives will help us to understand the health of bee hives in Queensland.

Register as a biosecurity entity

If you own or keep at least one hive, you must register as a biosecurity entity. Registration is free for non-commercial beekeepers.

Registration helps contact owners, keeping you informed if there’s an animal disease emergency. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re registered if you meet the requirements.

On a final note, since the initiation of the response to the detection of varroa, the QBA have provided consultation to DAF and Biosecurity Queensland on most aspects of the response.

We have advocated for the establishment of strong measures to protect the state from the mite in addition to practical management strategies to support Queensland beekeepers through the most significant threat to modern day Australian beekeeping. 

Should you have any questions about this announcement or require support in applying for a permit, please contact me via email (statesecretary@qbabees.org.au). 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Dear Members, 

Please find attached below the weekly update for the week ending 10 January 2023. 

QBA Varroa Destructor Update to Members 10012023.pdf

Kind regards, 

Jo Martin 

Dear Members, 

Please find attached below the weekly update for the week ending the 4th January 2023 relating to the response to the 2022 varroa detection. 

QBA Varroa Destructor Update to Members 04012023.pdf

Kind regards, 

Jo Martin 

Dear Members, 

Please find the latest weekly update on the response to varroa attached below. 

QBA Varroa Destructor Update to Members 211222.pdf

Kind regards, 

Jo Martin. 

Dear Members, 

Please find attached below the latest weekly update relating to the response to varroa for the week ending 16 December 2022. 

QBA Varroa Destructor Update to Members 16122022.pdf

Should you have any questions in relation to the update please email info@qbabees.org.au . 

Kind regards, 

Jo Martin 

Dear Members, 

Please find attached below a copy of the latest weekly update for the week ending 9 December 2022. 

QBA Varroa Destructor Update to Members 09122022.pdf

Should you have any questions relating to this update, please email info@qbabees.org.au . 

Kind regards, 

Jo Martin 

Dear Members, 

Please find the varroa mite update for the week ending 2 December 2022 attached below. 

QBA Varroa Destructor Update to Members 02122022.pdf

Should you have any questions in relation to this update, please email info@qbabees.org.au .

Kind regards, 

Jo Martin 

Dear Members, 

Please find the latest Varroa Mite update for the week ending 24th November 2022 attached below. 

QBA Varroa Destructor Update to Members 24112022.pdf

Should you have any questions in relation to the update, please email us at info@qbabees.org.au 

Kind regards, 

Jo Martin 

Please find below the latest weekly update on the response to varroa and ongoing surveillance efforts in Queensland. 

• QBA Varroa Destructor Update to Members 171122.pdf
  

This week we remind our Brisbane Branch and Stanley River Branch members that your meetings are scheduled to take place on Friday 25th November (Brisbane) and Saturday 26th November (Stanley River). 

Members of the Brisbane Branch can access more information about the upcoming meeting by visiting the Brisbane Branch subpage in the members website. Please note you will need to log in to the website to access the information. Please use the link below to access the Brisbane Branch page.

• QBA Brisbane Branch
  

Members of the Stanley River Branch can access more information about the upcoming meeting by visiting the Stanley River Branch subpage in the members website. Again, members will need to log in to the website to access the information. Please use the link below to access the Stanley River Branch page. 

• QBA Stanley River Branch
  

Bee Biosecurity Officer Dave Schlipalius will attend both meetings to provide an update to the current response to varroa in Queensland. 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

Please find below the latest weekly update relating to the response to varroa and the ongoing surveillance efforts in Queensland. 

• QBA Varroa Destructor Update to Members 13112022.pdf
  

We urge all members to conduct mite surveillance checks immediately and report all results to the Bee 123 portal. Click here to learn more about reporting varroa mite surveillance. 

Kind Regards, 

Jo Martin.