The National Banana Freckle Eradication Program is dedicating its resources to find the last remaining banana plants in the Darwin and Palmerston areas of the Red Zone.
Kevin Cooper, National Banana Freckle Eradication Program State Coordinator, says the program needs to determine if the last few remaining properties have banana plants.
“There are still a number properties that we haven’t heard from and we need to know if they do or do not have banana plants,” Mr Cooper said.
“We have tried to make contact with these properties through so many channels – phone, email, direct mail, face to face.
“We would like to hear from you if you live in Durack, Leanyer, Millner, Moulden, Rapid Creek, Tiwi, Woodroffe or Anula and you haven’t made contact with the Program.
“The simplest way to do this is for residents to call the Hotline, email us or visit the Banana Freckle website and take the short survey and tell us if they do or do not have banana plants.
“If you do have banana plants, book an appointment and we can send a field team around and complete destruction.
“If you don’t have banana plants, we register the property as banana plant free.
“This information will help us eradicate Banana Freckle and ensure Territorians can grow healthy bananas in the future.
“Banana plants that remain after 30 April put the whole program at risk,” Mr Cooper said.
The National Banana Freckle Eradication Program has determined the status of over 40,000 households in Red Zones with only a small number still unknown.
“The support from the community has been outstanding so far and we are making great progress towards eradicating Banana Freckle from the NT.
“Any banana plants that remain in the Red Zones after 30 April could attract fines or other penalties,” Mr Cooper said.
Call the Banana Freckle Hotline on 1800 771 163, email banana@nt.gov.au or visit www.bananafreckle.nt.gov.au
For further information about this media release please contact the National Banana Freckle Eradication Program Communications Manager on 08 8999 2085.