In the week before 24 October 2024, Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) removed an infested Port Jackson fig and an infested London plane tree from Perth’s Hyde Park. It also heavily pruned two other London plane trees. PerthNow reported that the removals brought the park’s total to 12 trees at that time.
Which trees were removed, and why?
DPIRD confirmed the removals to PerthNow, which published its report on 24 October 2024. The trees had been infested with polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB). Two additional London plane trees were heavily pruned during the operation.
The work was part of the response to a pest that can damage trees and spread between them. In October 2024, a DPIRD spokesperson told PerthNow that the department was working with the City of Vincent on a staged approach to remove infested trees at Hyde Park, with the stated aim of limiting spread and reducing effects on the park’s canopy. The spokesperson also described pruning and removal as the only effective, proven strategy to protect other trees. That was the department’s characterization in 2024, not a blanket statement of current policy.
What did the October 2024 numbers mean?
PerthNow reported that more than 6,000 Perth trees had been confirmed with PSHB and that the quarantine zone covered almost 200 suburbs. The report also attributed to DPIRD an estimate that up to 20 per cent of Hyde Park’s trees were infected. Those figures describe the situation as reported in October 2024; they are not current counts.
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The sources cited here do not establish a current infection count for Hyde Park or a directly comparable current Perth-wide total. The historical figure of 12 removals is likewise the total reported after the operation, not a live tally.
What is polyphagous shot-hole borer?
PSHB is a beetle that excavates galleries in tree trunks and branches. It introduces Fusarium fungus into those galleries. DPIRD says the fungus can disrupt the tree’s vascular system and the movement of water and nutrients, potentially leading to the tree’s death. The damage is not simply the beetle eating the wood. See DPIRD’s current PSHB guidance for identification and response information.
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How has the response changed since the Hyde Park removals?
In October 2024, DPIRD described a staged operation with the City of Vincent to address infested trees at Hyde Park. DPIRD’s later, current response material describes a national shift from eradication to management. Under the current plan, its pruning and removal program focuses on trees in outer Perth that pose a risk of spreading the borer beyond the Quarantine Area. The shift in strategy does not mean that every infested tree is automatically removed.
DPIRD’s current FAQ says the metropolitan quarantine area and movement restrictions remain in place. It also identifies $26.5 million provisioned in the 2025–26 State Budget for the response plan. Because boundaries and requirements can change, check DPIRD’s live PSHB guidance and quarantine map before moving wood, plant material or machinery out of a quarantine zone.
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What did the City of Vincent say about the park’s canopy?
In the October 2024 report, City of Vincent mayor Alison Xamon said the urban tree canopy was a priority and that the city hoped to avoid removals unless necessary. She encouraged residents to check trees and said a Hyde Park reference group had been established to guide a replanting program. Xamon described the goal this way: “It is our goal to see the pest eradicated without removing trees unless it is absolutely necessary.” She also said the group would help guide a program to protect the park “for future generation.” These were statements reported in 2024, not confirmation of a current council commitment.
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What should you do if you suspect PSHB?
- Report suspected signs through DPIRD’s MyPestGuide Reporter app or the Pest and Disease Information Service; use the contact and reporting details on DPIRD’s PSHB page.
- Do not move potentially affected wood, plant material or machinery out of a quarantine zone without checking the current rules.
- Consult DPIRD’s live quarantine map and guidance, as boundaries and movement requirements may change.
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