Please find below the update published at 9.17pm, Tuesday 28/06/2022 from AHBIC. 

As you may have already seen, the DPI emergency zone map has been updated.

The Department has been conducting tracing to identify hive movements. Three locations have been identified outside of the 50km emergency zone connected to the commercial operation detected with mites within the original zone. One of these loads was near Dubbo, no mites were detected, however due to the high risk this load of bees was destroyed, as previously advised.

Another site which is approximately 65km north east of the original detection was inspected by DPI and industry representatives. Alcohol washes on every hive resulted in the detection of two mites across the whole load. In response to this low-level detection a new Infected Premise (IP) response has been initiated, with a new 10km eradication zone, 25km surveillance zone and 50km buffer zone determined. This has resulted in the update of the DPI emergency zone map tonight.

This new detection is outside the 50km original zone, but is directly connected to the commercial operation. Whilst it is of concern that there is a new detection, it is an extremely low-level detection and connected to the same operation. The Incident Management Team is still confident that eradication is achievable, and every effort will continue to be made to ensure we eliminate this incursion.

The map has also been updated with a number of other detections of mites in hives in the original emergency zone.

We will continue to keep our community informed of the updates provided by AHBIC. 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

We would like to share the NSW Biosecurity website with all members. 

The website provides information in relation to the current incursion and maps that identify any changes to the eradication zone (10km), the surveillance zone (25km), the notification zone (50km), and the general biosecurity zone (rest of NSW). 

• https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/seasonal-pests-and-diseases/spring/varroa-mite

Updates from the NSW Biosecurity department will be published on this site and we recommend members, clubs and contacts of the QBA familiarise themselves with the site in order to stay abreast of the evolving situation. 

Updates from AHBIC will be published through their Facebook page. Click here to access AHBIC on Facebook.

I will endeavour to share AHBIC Facebook updates as quickly as possible via email and via the QBA's social media platforms. 

QBA will ensure updates from all agencies and AHBIC are communicated via email to ensure we can cover all bases when it comes to getting information into our sector. 

Our members webpage will undergo a slight over the coming days to create a new portal where members can access all information (published via email) in an easy to follow format. I will endeavour to create a timeline flow of information to make it easier for members to navigate through updates from the initial announcement through to the recent announcements.

Once this change has been completed, I will email all members with a link to the portal. We have decided to make this information available publicly in order to play our role in assisting in the distribution of information to industry. 

We thank you again for your efforts in assisting our team to communicate important updates to the greater industry. We've seen increases in engagement across all of our communication portals thanks to the efforts of our community. 

Keep up the great work. 

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary. 

Please find below the latest announcement from the Director Plant Biosecurity & Product Integrity, NSW Chief Plant Protection Officer in relation to the addition of a new area of the current response operation. 

• Approved-Biosecurity-Varroa-Mite-Emergency-Order-2022-No.-3.pdf
  

Varroa Mite Eradication Response Update 3 - AHBIC

Posted to social media 27/06/2022 at 11.20am 

I have received a lot of questions around the Incident Management Team's decision to destroy the hives located near Dubbo. To add some context around that decision.

On Wednesday mite was detected in sentinel hive at the port. On Saturday a further detection was identified 9 km from the original detection (IP4). The new detection was in commercial hives.

The department has been swift to trace the hive movements related to the commercial operation. Tracing discovered that another load related to IP4 had been moved from a location that was very close to the IP4 out to the site near Dubbo only 2-3 weeks ago.

The decision to destroy the hives was based on the following facts:

- The Dubbo site has been classified as 'Dangerous Contact Premise' which triggers a predetermined response.

- There is an extremely high risk that the load could contain mites given the previous close proximity to IP4.

- Despite no mites being detected the risk of missing mites within the load is also extremely high.

The decision is based on risk and made by expert professionals in their field. I have full confidence the Incident Management Team is doing everything they can in this dynamic situation to ensure the eradication of this pest.

QBA will continue to keep members, clubs and key stakeholders informed of the evolving situation through our email communications system and social media channels.

We sincerely appreciate the efforts of our members, stakeholders and supporters of the QBA to recirculate priority messages via email and our social media accounts. If you're using Facebook, please click on the Facebook icon at the bottom of this post to follow the QBA and assist us in communicating key messages. 

Keep up the great work. 

Kind regards,

Jo Martin 

QBA State Secretary

On Wednesday the 22nd June an initial detection of Varroa mite was found in sentinel hives at the port of Newcastle. A second confirmed detection in a commercial load of bees occurred within 10km on Saturday 25th June.

These have been the ONLY detections so far. There has been no further detections outside of the 10km eradication zone.

Due to the second detection being in commercial hives, DPI have been swift in conducting tracing activities to determine the locations of any hives connected to the commercial operation. The resulting tracing has determined that there are hives connected to the operation outside of the 50km emergency zone.

In consultation state counterparts, the almond industry and AHBIC, the Incident Controller and Chief Plant Officer signed the stand still order which came into effect this evening. The order means the following:

• Hives must not be moved if they are in the state of NSW regardless if NSW is not their residence.
• Hives must not be 'tampered' with, meaning hives can not be worked, extracted or have supers put on.
• There is an exemption for conducting surveillance including sugar shake and alcohol washes.

The intent of the order is to allow time for the department to trace hive movements and determine the locations of any 'at risk' hives outside of the 50km zone.

This is a biosecurity order and the penalties for disregarding this order are huge, police are aware and patrolling. Please be patient. This is for the long term benefit of our industry.

Sugar shake and alcohol washes can be undertaken on any hives during this order. If mites are detected in your surveillance ring the hotline on 1800 084 881.

Please find the emergency order from NSW DPI here, which outlines all key information.

For a printed version please click the link below

• AHBIC Varroa incursion update 2.pdf

Please find an additional announcement from the Director Plant Biosecurity & Product Integrity, NSW Chief Plant Protection Officer in relation to the Biosecurity (Varroa Mite Dangerous Contact Premises Zone) Emergency Order. 

Biosecurity-Varroa-Mite-DCP-Zone-Emergency-Order-2022.pdf

Please see the Biosecurity Varroa Mite Emergency Order issued by the Director of Plant Biosecurity & Product Integrity, NSW Chief Plant Protection Officer relating to all beekeeping activities in NSW effective 26/06/2022 6pm.

Biosecurity-Varroa-Mite-Emergency-Order-2022-No.-2.pdf

A detection of Varroa destructor was identified by authorities on Wednesday 22nd June 2022 in sentinel hives at the Port of Newcastle.

Please see the media release relating to the detection issued by the NSW DPI 24/06/2022.

20220624_Varroa mite detected in Newcastle beehives - 24-06-2022.pdf

A detection of Varroa destructor was identified by authorities on Wednesday 22nd June 2022 in sentinel hives at the Port of Newcastle. Please find information from AHBIC in the attachment below relating to the detection. 

AHBIC incursion information - 24-06-2022.pdf