Protect the Riverland and your wallet these school holidays

With school holidays fast approaching, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) is reminding all holidaymakers to help protect the Riverland’s horticulture industry by not bringing restricted produce into the region or risk a $420 fine.

The spring school holidays align with warmer weather, increased travel, and major events like the AFL Grand Final and Labour Day long weekend, bringing a surge of visitors through the Riverland.

“School holidays are a wonderful time to enjoy the Riverland’s natural beauty, food, and events, but they also bring a real risk of fruit fly being brought in from outside the pest free area,” said Jason Size, General Manager of the Fruit Fly Response Program. “We’re asking all travellers to check their bags and eskies carefully – leave fresh fruit and fruiting vegetables at home and make use of the quarantine bins at entry points.”

The Riverland is part of South Australia’s pest free area (PFA) which is subject to strict biosecurity restrictions meaning common host produce such as apples, bananas, citrus, tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, and eggplants cannot be brought into the PFA. These items can carry undetected fruit fly maggots or eggs, potentially sparking a new outbreak.

To enforce these rules, PIRSA conducts vehicle checks at random roadblocks and quarantine stations at key entry routes into South Australia and the Riverland. Anyone caught carrying restricted produce may be issued a $420 fine.

There are still plenty of safe snack options for road trips and picnics. Travellers can pack produce that is not considered fruit fly host material, such as pineapple, watermelon, rockmelon, and honeydew. For a full list see restricted fruit and vegetables and fruit and vegetables without restrictions.

“Whether you’re heading to the river, passing through, or exploring the region, doing the right thing makes a real difference,” Mr Size said. “Leave restricted produce behind and help keep the Riverland fruit fly free.”

For travel advice, quarantine bin locations, and current outbreak updates visit fruitfly.sa.gov.au or call the 24-Hour Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.

Detections and sterile insect technique (SIT) fly releases

Below is a summary of the detections of fruit fly for the 12-week period from 23 June to 14 September
2025:

• No flies were detected in 33 of the 56 Riverland outbreak areas.
• Flies were detected in 23 of the 56 Riverland outbreak areas.

PIRSA will release sterile flies at the following locations until early January 2026:

• Chaffey
• Cooltong
• Crescent
• Paringa
• Renmark

See Sterile insect technique for more information.

Outbreak end dates

The end dates for all outbreaks are as follows:

• Riverland: 27 December 2025
• Ceduna: 11 November 2025
• Glynde: 20 December 2025
• Salisbury North: 6 December 2025

Contact

For more information about fruit fly, self-baiting, or the latest outbreak advice, visit fruitfly.sa.gov.au or call the 24-Hour Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.

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

Riverland and Murraylands FaB mentors include:

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