Feasibility study into establishment of a NSW Vine Health Committee

Abstract

Feasibility study into establishment of a NSW Vine Health Committee

Summary

In the late 1990s the NSW Wine Industry Association’s Research and Development Sub-Committee recommended the formation of a NSW Vine Health Committee for the purpose of developing strategies and programs in response to vine disease outbreaks, including phylloxera.

In regard to the latter the recommendation of the R&D Sub-committee was that the proposed body would be formed under the auspices of the NSWWIA and be made up of representatives of the NSW wine regions.

Tasks that would need to be undertaken in order to achieve these objectives of a VHC would include:

a) Development of a data base on vineyards in New South Wales for the purposes of knowing what the targets are in the event of a major disease outbreak. This would include knowledge of rootstocks planted.

b) Implementation and monitoring of PEZ area freedom maintenance tasks.

c) Provide training in disease recognition/awareness.

d) Check accreditation of nurseries selling vitis material.

e) Develop/Assess risks, provide technical advice to AQIS.

f) Represent the State on the National Vine Health Steering Committee’s Technical Reference Group.

It was proposed funding would be by way of a per tonne levy on grapes grown, collected by the regional winegrower associations on behalf of grape growers. The regional presentations took place over a period of 12 months and have just recently been completed. As a result of the consultation there were doubts that a voluntary levy could succeed, and that any activities would need some statutory underpinning.

Since the late 1990s there have been some significant developments that impacted on the way a Vine Health Committee might operate, in particular, the strengthening of the role of the National Vine Health Steering Committee and the phylloxera protocols, and the establishment of Plant Health Australia.