A banana freckle outbreak in the Top End has grown to 17 properties, three years after the disease was officially eradicated from the Northern Territory.
The fungal disease was detected last month on plants at a residential rural property in the Batchelor region, about100 kilometres south of Darwin.
A surveillance program has now confirmed the disease at 15 other properties in the region, as well as at the government's Coastal Plains Research Farm at Middle Point, about 50 kilometres away.
NT Chief Plant Health Officer Anne Walters said authorities were not expecting to see the disease return after it was declared eradicated in 2019, and did not believe the current problem was linked to the previous outbreak.
"It doesn't survive in the soil … all of the banana plants and the material were removed last time," she said.
"I guess the only likelihood is that it's come from overseas somewhere, but whether that's the case we have to do further investigation [to confirm]."
Business brought to a standstill, again
It is devastating news for Julie Murphy and her husband Alan Petersen, whose entire banana plantation was destroyed after banana freckle was found on their property in 2013.
Ms Murphy said she was shocked when the disease was found in the NT last month and then on her family's property again.
"We were completely assured, repeatedly, it was eradicated," she said.
The detection of the disease has brought their business to a standstill for a second time.
Dr Walters said the additional cases of freckle in the Batchelor region were not surprising but its appearance at the Coastal Plains facility was "unusual".
She said there were about 250 banana plants at the research farm, but only four were showing signs of the disease.
"The plants that we're finding that have banana freckle tend to be plants that are two rows in, so they're not even on the edge of the site," she said.
"We're probably thinking that it's wind- or rain-dispersed [contagion]."
Banana plants from the Coastal Plains farm will be removed, while landowners from other infected properties have been told not to move plant products, material, or equipment from their property.
Local and interstate talks underway about next steps
Dr Walters said her department was discussing the next steps with the local industry and community, as well as national and interstate authorities.
The NT Farmers Association last month said the disease was seen as a major threat to Australia's $500 million banana industry.
The widespread eradication program implemented during the previous outbreak caused equally widespread anger in the community, and it wiped out the local industry.
"We want to make sure that the community's onside with us when we make a decision about what the best approach is," Dr Walters said.
"At this stage … we're looking at probably a couple of weeks before we have a clearer idea of the pathway forward."
Julie Murphy is now pleading for financial assistance for affected businesses.
"We totally understand biosecurity … but we don't want to be the ones to suffer again."
Anyone with concerns about their banana plants is urged to contact the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
