WA’s shot-hole borer response labelled ‘deeply concerning’
Local governments in Perth are expressing concern over the state government's funding response to the polyphagous shot-hole borer pest. The recently announced budget allocates $4.8 million over four years, which is significantly less than the $45 million requested by local authorities. Officials warn that the financial burden of managing the pest will fall heavily on local councils and their ratepayers.
- ▪The state budget promises $4.8 million to manage the shot-hole borer over the next four years.
- ▪Local governments requested $45 million to effectively manage the pest's spread.
- ▪City of Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon highlighted that management costs could reach $1 million annually.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-05-21T19:00:00Z","datePublished":"2026-05-21T19:00:00Z","description":"The 2026-27 state budget promised a further $4.8 million to help manage the pest over the next four years. Local governments say that is nowhere near enough.","headline":"WA’s shot-hole borer response labelled ‘deeply concerning’","keywords":"Biosecurity, Perth, Just in WA, Environmental protection, Environmental threats","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Holly…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.