In 2004, European House Borer (EHB) was discovered in Perth. The borer infests seasoned softwood and therefore is a hazard to industries that rely on softwoods, such as the building and timber industries.

The State Government responded to this outbreak by implementing an EHB eradication program. In 2006 this pest was recognised as a national problem and a nationally funded program was established.  These measures have played a large role in reducing EHB populations within infested areas and in containing the spread of this pest, especially in suburban/residential districts.

In 2011, national funding for the program was stopped as eradication was considered not feasible in the short term whilst infested pine plantations remained in the state.  To wind down the program in an orderly way, a ‘containment program’ with reduced resources has been in place, with limited funding by the Western Australian Government and administered by the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA). This funding will end in mid-2014.

The interim program has enabled the surveillance and regulation required to preserve EHB area freedom (EHB-free areas) outside of delineated areas known as Restricted Movement Zones (a 2km buffer around each site where infestation has occurred). If this area freedom status is lost there will be a significant impact on industry. For example in the building industry the use of resistant material would be required for all buildings state wide. Buildings previously constructed with untreated pine, items of furniture and other pine products would be at risk from the future spread of EHB within the state.

All other Australian states are considered to be free of EHB and have imposed import restrictions on all EHB susceptible host material from Restricted Movement Zones (RMZs) in WA. If area freedom in WA is lost, the entire state would be considered EHB infested. All industries transporting untreated pine from anywhere within Western Australia would be subject to these regulations and any further associated costs. Where industry can currently locate itself outside of an RMZ to avoid these restrictions this would only be achieved by moving interstate.

State Government funding for the DAFWA EHB containment project is committed at a low level until mid-2014. Because of the potential impact on the building and timber industries of considering the whole state as EHB infested we are seeking advice from key industry bodies if they are willing to fund an ongoing surveillance and containment programme sufficient to preserve RMZs within the state. This would maintain the current requirement for resistant material in RMZs only.

Also, I would be interested in your views on what mechanism is appropriate and how such a programme could be managed. Please note that DAFWA is sending a similar letter to their stakeholders on this matter.

Please contact Dan Ellis-Jones at the Building Commission to submit your comments on possible industry funding of the EHB containment program by Friday 9 August 2013.

You can contact him by email dan.ellis-jones@commerce.wa.gov.au or write to him at the following address:

Dan Ellis-Jones
EHB Funding Mechanism
Building Commission
Locked Bag 12
WEST PERTH  WA  6872