Just when beekeepers thought varroa mite was their biggest concern, floodwaters have inundated properties around much of the NSW Hunter Valley.
Residents around Bulga, Broke, and low-lying areas of Singleton have been evacuated overnight, with one river breaking a 70-year flood height record.
Ahead of forecast heavy rain, beekeeper Josh Johnson started to move his beehives from their location at Belford to nearby Branxton.
Despite the varroa mite hive movement ban, he could do that under a special permit from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) for beekeepers in flood warning zones.
But, sadly, for some hives, it was too late.
"We managed to recover five of them and get them home, but with the varroa mite [outbreak], we aren't able to open them up and check them."
"Last time, back in the February, March [floods], we had to open the hives up and take brood frames out other hives we had off-site, this time we can't do that, so we're probably going to lose those hives as well."
The NSW DPI said varroa mite would not spread through flooding.
"It's a horrible topic to talk about, but the reality is if the host, the bees, don't survive [flooding], then the mite can't survive either," NSW Deputy Chief Plant Protection Officer Dr Chris Anderson said.
Three-year ban if varroa contained
Now Mr Johnson is awaiting clarity on when he will be able to rebuild his colonies.
The total number of properties found with varroa mite is up to 24, but authorities remain confident they can control the outbreak.
Millions of bees will be destroyed in that quest in designated "eradication zones", mainly up and down the NSW coast and at Narrabri.
If authorities succeed in once again freeing Australia from varroa mite, they say a "program of host eradication" will continue in each eradication zone for three years.
"To minimise the risk of reintroduction of varroa or survival of varroa on undetected hosts within the zones," the DPI said in a statement.
In surveillance zones, beekeepers can maintain the hives but not move them or introduce more bees.
"But hives will not be permitted to enter or leave this zone."
As for the "notification zone" – the 25-50 kilometres radius from infected premises – the DPI said it would a "make a risk-based decision" soon.
That is where Mr Johnson's hives are.
He said future restrictions would be challenging for his business going forward.
"You get very attached to them. You look after them. They are our babies," he said.
He hopes they will be able to restart the honey collection at least in the coming months.
"My wife is heavily involved in it as well, and it's basically her full income, what we get from the honey sales.
"So, without that, she, in turn, has to find other work."
Editors note 6/7/22: This article initially stated that the bees were kept on Josh Johnson’s property. The ABC has since seen documentation showing that Mr Johnson and Singleton Council are in discussions about the purchase of the land. Mr Johnson has been given notice to remove the bees while that request is considered, which he says he intendeds to do in drier weather.
