NSW to hold mock canker response

NSW to hold mock canker response

Citrus Australia will take part in a project run by NSW’s Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services (LLS) that will test the state’s preparedness to a detection of citrus canker in an exercise later this month.

There has never been a detection of citrus canker in New South Wales but in light of the recent incursion in the NT and WA, the government bodies believed it timely to review and evaluate NSW emergency response plans, preparedness and response capacity.

‘Exercise Orange Juice’ will be a discussion based exercise held in Griffith, NSW, on October 24.

The dynamic between the DPI and LLS in a plant based emergency response will be a key focus. Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock and National Citrus Surveillance Coordinator, Jeff Milne, will participate.

Plant Health Australia, Auscitrus, Nursery & Garden Industry Australia and NSW Farmers have all been invited.

The exercise will allow participants to consider and review the NSW approach to a plant pest emergency response with the intention to eradicate following an approved response plan (PlantPlan) under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD).