DEVASTATING GUM TREE DISEASE
Is Rome burning whilst governments fiddle?
A packed Public Meeting held last night by the Conservation Council of SA, resulted in calls for immediate government action on the devastating disease Mundulla Yellows which is killing Australia's gum trees. Plants showing symptoms of the disease are found through all states, including in urban settings, but research funding has been delayed.
Research into Mundulla Yellows being undertaken by the University of Adelaide shows it is caused by a virus-like organism. Funding for this research has been delayed and this year's contract from State and Federal Government put out to tender. There appears to be no assurance of ongoing funding.
Millions of dollars are spent on revegetation and Landcare each year, yet this year the State and Federal Government's combined funding towards research into Mundulla Yellows is $132,000. A national committee to advise on Mundulla Yellows has been established by the Federal and State governments, but will not report back until later next year.
Whole ecosystems are changing as habitat trees die, in some areas up to 90% of roadside vegetation is dead or dying - few have thought of the impact this is having on the birds, animals and insects that live in, or get their food from those plants, including koalas.
Such is the concern about this disease, the Public Meeting drew interest from around the state, and interstate, with people coming specially from NSW, Victoria and WA. Speakers including significant and appropriately qualified scientists, the National President of the LGA and the SA Farmers Federation, expressed their concerns and support for the only research being undertaken into the disease. Local Government was also at the CCSA meeting in force, from across SA (and Victoria).
Messages of support were received from a large number of people and organizations including the SA & NT State National Council of the Australian Institute of Horticulture and State President of Women in Agriculture and Business.
The meeting called for immediate action from government including:-
Government support and funding for the ongoing research at the Waite (University of Adelaide);
the proceedings of the April 2002 joint government Workshop on Mundulla Yellows research directions be made public by the end of this October;
the Mundulla Yellows Action Group to be officially recognized by the State Government and constituted of appropriately qualified scientists and representatives from government agencies, SAFF, LGA and CCSA;
the National Task Force on Mundulla Yellows to include appropriately qualified scientists (eg plant pathologists ) .
Interstate participants called for national dissemination of information and community education. Members from the Koala Rescue Hospital at Pt Macquarie, NSW, stated that Koala survival largely depends on appropriate food sources from eucalypts and these are now threatened by Mundulla Yellows.
'The increasing groundswell of community concern will no longer be quelled by excuses and delays. Government must stop playing around with arguments over small funding and take real action' said Jasemin Rose, CCSA Vice President.
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Comment: Jasemin Rose, CCSA Vice President 0438 254 314
