School holidays may have started, but there was still work happening at Anula Primary School this weekend. The destruction of banana plants in the six red zones of the Territory continued with work by Banana Freckle field teams in schools over the weekend.

With the help of the community, the National Banana Freckle Eradication Program is well on the way to achieving its goal of destruction of all banana plants in red zones by April 2015. In total, there are 89 schools in red zones with 1,443 banana plants to be removed.

Banana Freckle field teams destroyed a small plot of banana plants at Anula Primary School over the weekend.

The plants were cut down 30cm from the ground and the stumps were removed. The plant material that was chopped down was disposed of at a rubbish tip within the red zone.

Anula Primary School Principal, Kerry Hudson, said the school was happy to cooperate in the eradication program.

“We have explained to the students why the banana plants are being removed,” Ms Hudson said.

“While it is regrettable that the banana plants had to go from the school, it has been a learning experience for the students and Anula Primary is happy to play a role in helping the Territory achieve a Banana Freckle-free environment,” she said.

All banana plants in red zones must be destroyed by April 2015 to ensure Banana Freckle is eradicated from the Northern Territory. The red zones include the Greater Darwin rural area, Batchelor and Rum Jungle, Dundee, Milikapiti (on the Tiwi Islands), Nauiyi (Daly River) and Ramingining. Maps of all red zones are available from www.banana.nt.gov.au

Anyone who lives in a red zone and requires assistance to destroy their banana plants should contact the Banana Freckle Hotline on 1800 771 163 to arrange for a field team to assist them.