News

Port Augusta's fruit fly facility to double in size

Tuesday 30 May 2023

The $3 million expansion of the National Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) facility at Port Augusta is now under way, helping to drive down fruit fly numbers in South Australia.


The existing site, which opened in November 2016, has reached its capacity, producing up to 20 million sterile flies a week with most being released in the Riverland as part of the response to the current outbreaks in the region.

The program aims to reduce fruit fly population by mating sterile flies with wild flies, resulting in no fertile offspring.

The expansion is funded under the $30 million Australian Government National Building Resilience to Manage Fruit Fly program, with additional contributions from PIRSA and Citrus SA, and once completed will have twice the capacity of the original facility, doubling Queensland Fruit Fly (Q-fly) production.

The SIT facility will provide a critical service to help eradicate outbreaks in pest-free areas and reduce pest pressure in vulnerable production areas. SIT contributes to reduced pest damage and costs to farmers who must treat their fruit before it goes to premium export market.

Currently work on the Q-fly facility is on track to be completed by spring 2023 with additional flies expected to be ready for release later this year.

Production of sterile Q-flies will continue throughout the construction phase. The expansion will occur alongside the existing building and will then be joined at the end of the construction phase.

For more information on the National SIT Facility and SIT operations, see Sterile insect technology facility expansion begins.

Upcoming events

M T W T F S S
        1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
SA Carp Frenzy
02 Mar, 6:30am - 3:00pm

SARDI farmer meeting – Lock
05 Mar, 9:00am - 12:00pm

SARDI farmer meeting – Rudall
05 Mar, 2:00pm - 5:00pm

SARDI farmer meeting – Cowell
06 Mar, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Tanunda Show
09 Mar, 8:30am - 4:30pm

South East Field Days
15 Mar - 16 Mar

Mount Pleasant Show
16 Mar, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Keith and Tintinara Show
23 Mar, 7:00am - 11:30pm

Media contacts

If you are a member of the media with an enquiry about the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) please contact:

pirsa.media@sa.gov.au

PIRSA newsletters

Stay up-to-date with news from PIRSA by reading our newsletters

Subscribe to get updates now.

Top of page