Business & Property Another disaster wiping out beehives

populations in the Central Coast Zone, with the agreement of land managers in the community, will be prioritised to prevent further southward spread of the mite.

Beekeepers with hives in the extension areas are being advised by DPI Biosecurity to harvest their honey in anticipation of the wild bee management work beginning.

Varroa Mite has also been detected in another four areas further north – Glen William, Brookfield, Loxford and Sawyers Gully – which also fall within the Central Coast Eradication Zone.

The total nine new detections bring the number of infested premises in the Central Coast Zone to 131 since Varroa Mite was first identified during routine surveillance at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022. Meanwhile, 50 concerned Central Coast residents

Beekeepers are facing the prospect of euthanising their bees gathered on February 18 to protest the use of Fipronil in the battle against the Varroa Mite threat.

Save the Bees Australia founder Simon Mulvany and Jilliby beehive owner Dolfi Benesh outlined how hives are being destroyed at the Saving Our Native Bees event organised by Community Voice Central Coast.

Currently the (DPI) is using Fipronil to kill honey bees on the Central Coast, with disturbing implications for native bees, insects, birds and mammals.

The Australian Native Bee Association (ANBA) says the pesticide, which is being used in a baiting program (on feral nests) in the Red Zones, is highly toxic to stingless bees and may remain active within these areas for up to three years.

“Feral European honeybees will collect toxic sugar syrup and take it back to their nests inside hollow trees,” the ANBA says.

“In due course the feral nests will die, leaving substantial stores of honey which will be contaminated with Fipronil inside the trees.

“The Fipronil may continue to remain toxic in these areas for up to three years.

“Unfortunately, native stingless bees and other nectar-feeding insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals may visit dead feral European honeybee nests and collect contaminated honey.

“Some of these native insects and animals may die from Fipronil poisoning.”

A Community Voice Central Coast spokesperson said Fipronil has already been banned in the UK and Europe because it kills bees.

“Australia’s unique bee populations are already under threat from habitat loss, pesticide usage and effects of natural disasters,” the spokesperson said.

“Widespread bee culling practices destroy the livelihoods of our local beekeepers and spell financial ruin for their families.

“Additionally, it has implications for the pollination of crops and backyard farms on the Central Coast and surrounds.

“Native Australian stingless bees are powerful pollinators and have long been referred to as a ‘plan bee’ for crop pollination — a backstop against the loss or decline of European honey bee populations.

“Our bees deserve more than just being killed with poison.”

Community Voice Central Coast and Save The Bees Australia have an active change.org petition, now with more than 15,000 signatures, are asking for the immediate halting and removal of Fipronil baiting in NSW Red Zones.

The petition also calls for a judicial enquiry into the relationship between Government, industry-funded lobby groups, and organisations representing chemical company interests, which have authority and sway over Government policies related to bees.

Anyone concerned can email communityvoicecentralcoast @tutanota.com.

The petition can be accessed at https://www.change.org/p/ halt-the-poisoning-of-nativeaustralian-bees-throughfipronil-baiting.