AFTER a lengthy delay, Riverina Local Land Services (LLS) has appointed a new fruit fly campaign coordinator.
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Tammy Galvin will oversee community education programs in fruit fly control across Griffith, Narrandera, Leeton, Murrumbidgee and Carrathool shires.
Ms Galvin wanted to assure locals she was excited about the role and she was addressing the threat of fruit fly.
"Since 2012 the government has said the onus is on the grower and also backyard growers of fruit and vegetables to control fruit fly," Ms Galvin said.
"We are still catching many flies in the region, which makes it a real problem.
"My work is not just a preventive measure, it's a control measure because fruit flies are here and can't be ignored."
Ms Galvin said while the threat was present, it was manageable if everyone banded together.
"Fruit fly is all of our responsibility, even backyard growers should vigilant because they could be putting the biosecurity of the region at risk," she said.
"However, it can be controlled if the community works together and if people take it seriously.
"I will be running educational workshops in consultation with Department of Primary Industries (DPI) staff and other fruit fly experts as well as creating a DVD for social media to really educate community on fruit fly control methods."
Ms Galvin suggested control methods included baiting and cover spray but netting could be just as effective and even curtain material could work.