01 Aug 2018 Benalla Ensign, Benalla VIC (General News) The state government is helping the horticultural industry and local communities, including Lurg and Greta Valley, to tackle Queensland fruit fly (QFF) with the approval of more than $50 000 in on-ground grants for North East Victoria. Groups in North East Victoria that will benefit include the Greta Valley Landcare Group and the Lurg Public Hall Reserve Committee of Management, which will receive $5000 each. State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the program supported a coordinated and collaborative approach to QFF management in Victoria, with a special focus on projects that contributed to protecting local horticultural industries. Grants have now been allocated to 28 community groups to fund projects that support collaborative community action on QFF. This includes awarenessbuilding activities and increasing control of the pest through best practice management activities at a local level. Queensland fruit fly is a serious pest and we need a collaborative approach to reduce its impact on the states horticultural industries, which are worth $1.1 billion to Victorias export economy, Ms Symes said. The program builds on work already done in the sector and will play an important role in helping the community and industry to continue to manage Queensland fruit fly. Managing fruit fly is everyones responsibility and these grants enable industry and the community to take ownership of QFF control in their area, which we know gives us the best results. These grants are part of the Victorian Governments larger $6.7 million Managing Fruit Fly Regional Grants Program. Since the grants program started last year, significant progress has already been made in the management of QFF at a regional level in the Goulburn Murray Valley, Greater Sunraysia and Yarra Valley through extensive community engagement and coordinated control programs, including host tree removal, trapping, workshops and advertising campaigns. For full details of all the Managing Fruit Fly Grants allocated across Victoria, visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/qffgrants