Phytophthora cinnamomi June 2022 survey outcomes

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) undertook a second Phytophthora cinnamomi targeted survey on Norfolk Island between 20-24 June 2022. As previously communicated, the 2021 survey confirmed the presence of P.cinnamomi on Norfolk Island. As P.cinnamomi has been historically detected on the island and positive detections from the two surveys are broadly spread across the island, it is unlikely that the pathogen is a recent introduction.

Prior to the surveys, there were two pieces of evidence that indicated that P. cinnamomi was present on Norfolk Island.

1. A study carried out in the 1970s on Norfolk Island collected a sample of P. cinnamomi. This detection was reported in a publication in 1980 (Benson, 1980). 1

2. A sample that was collected in a 2012-14 survey and re-tested as part of the risk assessment carried out for the importation of the aggregate (the testing happened before the import occurred).

The June 2022 survey collected soil samples from the Norfolk Island National Park (which was not sampled in the 2021 survey), Norfolk Island Regional Council managed public reserves and areas less intensively sampled during the 2021 survey. The results from the recent survey has confirmed that P.cinnamomi is broadly distributed across Norfolk Island. The survey has also confirmed P.cinnamomi is present within the Norfolk Island National Park. The Parks team will undertake specific community consultation on this issue and will activate the recently installed boot scrub stations at the Botanic Gardens. Parks will install additional walk through stations at major national park entrances in the near future.

You can reduce the unintended spread of P.cinnamomi by reducing the movement of soil, water, plant material and dirty gardening equipment between sites/properties, where practical. Disinfectant products such as Phytoclean are effective for cleaning equipment and boots to reduce unintended spread.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, with support from DAFF, has worked with Dr. Anthony Rice to develop a P.cinnamomi management factsheet. This factsheet will be available in the coming weeks. Please contact Norfolk Island Regional Council at customercare@nirc.gov.nf or 22244 to get a copy or seek more information.

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