Up to 20 per cent of trees at Perth’s Hyde Park will have to be removed due to an insect infestation affecting more than 80 suburbs in the city.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) earlier this month confirmed about 20 trees in Kings Park would be removed due to being damaged by the Polyphagus shot-hole borer.
Native to South East Asia, the beetle was first detected in Western Australia in East Fremantle in August 2021.
WA Minister for Agriculture Jackie Jarvis told ABC Radio Perth on Tuesday a number of Hyde Park’s 900 trees would also have to be cut down due to the infestation.
“The only known treatment around the world is to actually remove the trees, we are fighting a battle to try and stop the spread of this pest,” Ms Jarvis said.
“A number of very large, iconic trees in Hyde Park will unfortunately be removed.”
The park is beloved for its old Moreton Bay figs, plane trees and box elders.
Ms Jarvis said the pest most likely entered the country when someone brought in untreated wood from south-east Asia.
Twenty-five local government areas in Perth are now under quarantine, with restrictions on the movement of wood chips and plant waste in place to help stop the spread as part of a three-year program which aims to eradicate the borer altogether.
Ms Jarvis said trees in Fremantle, Claremont, Kings Park and Perth Zoo have been found to be affected by the borer.
“1.5 million trees have already been inspected across the Perth metropolitan area,” Ms Jarvis said.
“If we were not to remove these trees from Hyde Park within a very short space of time this this pest would spread to other parks and into suburban streets.
“Our urban tree canopy is incredibly important and we’re doing all we can to protect as many trees as possible.”
Why is the beetle a threat?
University of Western Australia Associate Professor Theo Evans said the beetle could cause a surprising amount of damage for it’s size.
“It’s called a shot-hole borer, because the attack on a tree trunk looks like somebody has shot it with a shotgun, with lots of tiny little holes,” he said.
“When it chews into the tree, it makes a very small circular hole a bit less than a millimetre in diameter, and there’s usually a lot of them, so there’s many holes, all in the same position.”
The borers introduce a fungus which grows in the tree and forms the beetles’ food source.
Left unchecked, the fungus will eventually cause the tree to die.
Natives less at risk
Ms Jarvis said there were indications that native trees were less susceptible to the borers than European trees.
“We’re working with all the local governments impacted about tree replacement. We have a list of preferred trees that we know are not so susceptible,” she said.
State Member for Perth John Carey said the community would feel the loss of the trees deeply.
“It’s beautiful because of its trees,” Mr Carey said.
“I know people love it and the local community will be devastated.”
Locals are being asked to report suspected infestations to DPIRD, with the department to cover the cost of tree removal if necessary.
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