THE Victorian Government has got it right in controlling the dreaded Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), according to Cobram and District Fruit Growers Association president Tony Siciliano.

"The multi award–winning Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program has been an outstanding success for industry, government and community across the five local government areas comprising the Goulburn Murray Valley (GMV)," Mr Siciliano said.

The program has reduced Qfly populations in the GMV region by 60 per cent and a whopping 83 per cent in the township of Cobram.

It has generated over 3000 community volunteers and removed more than 97,000 unmanaged fruit trees that would otherwise be a breeding ground for fruit fly.

From a research perspective, the program manages multiple trapping grids that provide weekly updates to the community, industry, government and research organisations in Australia and overseas.

"I cannot think of any other Victorian Government funded project that has generated a return on investment of $5 for every $1 invested and at the same time united the community, industry and government in the fight against fruit fly to protect the Victorian economy," Mr Siciliano said.

"This is a Victorian success story that should be shared with fruit fly stakeholders throughout Australia.

"I was both dismayed and disappointed, together with many in the industry, that the outstanding achievements of this program were overlooked at the recent 2021National Fruit Fly Symposium.

"Our growers believe that the extraordinary results achieved in this Fruit Fly Area Wide Management (FFAWM) Program also need be acknowledged by Agriculture Victoria and formally incorporated into the core component of the Victorian Government's Fruit Fly Strategy 2021–2025."

Qfly was an exotic pest in Victoria and still is in South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, however, legislation has now determined that Qfly is an established pest in Victoria.

"We need to vigorously protect Victorian horticulture and prevent Qfly incursions into our interstate and overseas exports," Mr Siciliano said.

"We have the solution in our grasp, we should use this FFAWM model and utilise the community, industry and government to create awareness, education and engagement to monitor and control Qfly as well as other exotic species of fruit fly, such as Mediterranean fruit fly, in Victoria.

"Imagine if everyone was aware, educated and engaged in detecting and managing exotic fruit fly incursions in our state."

Federal and State Government funding currently targets fruit fly research as a method of controlling fruit fly, but research can sometimes take decades to achieve results.

Alternately, FFAWM based on the GMV model provides real results and immediate action through having 'boots on the ground' now.

"Congratulations and 'thumbs up' to the Victorian Government for continuing to fund this multi award winning FFAWM project during this financial year, let's share the knowledge and success it has achieved in the GMV with Horticulture Australia and more broadly," Mr Siciliano said.