In late October, Plant Health Australia (PHA) partnered with Vinehealth Australia and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) to facilitate a phylloxera preparedness workshop in the Barossa Valley.

The session aimed to gather feedback on the updated draft Phylloxera Outbreak Management Plan (POMP) and explore potential impacts of a phylloxera outbreak on local grape and wine producers.

Developed by Vinehealth and PIRSA, the draft POMP was presented during the workshop, with staff on hand to provide context and respond to questions. Thirty stakeholders from the Barossa grape and wine sector took part, including viticulturists, consultants, agronomists, regional association representatives and staff from PIRSA and Vinehealth.

Using a four-stage biosecurity incident scenario, participants worked through a hypothetical phylloxera detection in South Australia – from initial surveillance to movement controls and industry-led pest management. Attendees identified how their organisations would respond at each stage, with PIRSA and Vinehealth comparing responses to the procedures outlined in the draft plan.

The feedback will support future refinements to the POMP and help strengthen industry biosecurity preparedness, awareness and continuity planning.

PHA acknowledges and thanks Vinehealth Australia and PIRSA for their contribution as part of the Exercise Planning Team and notes that funding for the workshop was provided by Vinehealth Australia.

For more information on other training opportunities in plant biosecurity, please contact training@phau.com.au.