Stop and drop to travel smart this long weekend

Travellers heading to or returning to the Riverland this forthcoming long weekend are being reminded by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) about the importance of leaving restricted produce at home.

Anyone found entering the Riverland or South Australia with restricted produce will face a $417 fine.

Jason Size, Incident Controller of the Fruit Fly Emergency Response, encouraged those visiting the Riverland this long weekend to shop local, and leave restricted produce at home.

“We don’t want to issue fines to travellers excited about visiting our region, so we need everyone to stop and drop their restricted produce in the quarantine bins when entering the Riverland or SA,” Mr Size said.

“It’s too late to stop and drop if you’re at the Yamba Quarantine Station, or pulled over at a random roadblock, and if you do you will be fined – so please use the bins before you arrive at these checkpoints.”

Visit fruitfly.sa.gov.au/bin-fruit for quarantine bin locations and to plan your journey.

Mr Size also emphasised the positive impact of buying local while in the Riverland region.

“The Riverland has amazing fresh produce of every kind imaginable that visitors are encouraged to buy and enjoy,” he said.

“The amazing produce we grow here is second to none – and buying local helps local growers who are working tirelessly to fight against outbreaks of Queensland fruit fly.”

Check the list of restricted fruit and vegetables at fruitfly.com.au/restricted-produce.

No new Queensland fruit fly outbreaks were declared in the Riverland during this past fortnight with the total remaining number of outbreaks stable at 56.

However, detections in the Bookpurnong B outbreak area have resulted in an extension to the end date for that area.

Field teams continue to visit properties in the Riverland red outbreak areas and yellow suspension areas to apply control measures and check for signs of fruit fly.

Detections and sterile fly releases

For the 12-week period from 2 December to 23 February, this is how many Queensland fruit flies were found in Riverland outbreak areas (as of 3 March 2025):

• No flies were detected in 26 of the 56 outbreak areas
• Flies were detected in 30 of the 56 outbreak areas.

PIRSA will release sterile flies at the following locations until 12 May 2025.

• Barmera
• Berri
• Bookpurnong
• Cobdogla
• Glossop
• Gurra Gurra
• Holder
• Loveday
• Loxton North A
• Lyrup
• Monash, Monash North
• Murtho C, D, E, F
• Overland Corner
• Pike River, Pike River West
• Taylorville
• Winkie.

These locations include areas that have been treated with sterile flies previously and are moving towards eradication, but have had some fly detections recently and would benefit from reapplication.

Visit fruitfly.sa.gov.au/sit for more information.

Outbreak end dates

The end dates for all outbreaks are as follows:

• Riverland: 30 May 2025
• Glynde: 20 May 2025
• Salisbury: 9 May 2025

PIRSA has Family and Business (FaB) support mentors available to help Riverland locals through this challenging time. FaB mentors are available for a free, informal, confidential and independent conversation in person, or over the phone:

• Robyn Cain – 0411 633 085
• John Chase – 0419 848 672
• Brent Fletcher – 0439 409 430.

For more information about the fruit fly, self-baiting, or the latest outbreak advice, visit fruitfly.sa.gov.au or call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.