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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Local governments across Perth are calling for better investment from the state government to help mitigate the spread of the polyphagous shot-hole borer, which has wreaked havoc on the city\u2019s tree canopy.<\/p>\n The 2026-27 state budget promised a further $4.8 million to help over the next four years \u2013 $3.8 million of which will be given to local governments, who have been put in charge of managing the spread.<\/p>\n The funding is far less than the amount the WA Local Government Association stated it needed to manage the situation effectively.<\/p>\n Its pre-budget submission called for an additional $45 million, plus $40 million over the next decade to plant new trees, and $7 million over the next three years for residential prevention efforts.<\/p>\n WALGA president Mark Irwin said he recognised the investment from the state government but confirmed it was lower than what they had called for.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue to work with the state government to ensure that local government and key stakeholders are equipped to appropriately manage the impact of polyphagous shot-hole borer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n City of Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon said local governments had been left to manage the long-term environmental and financial consequences of the shot-hole borer on the ground.<\/p>\n She said Hyde Park had the highest infestation in the area, with other areas of concern including HBF\/ Loton Park, Beatty Park, Robertson Park and the City\u2019s administration \u2013 \u201cessentially all our parks containing high-value heritage Ficus and London Plane trees\u201d.<\/p>\n Trap data has indicated there has been an increase of the shot-hole borer within Hyde Park since infested trees were removed last year.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last year, infestation has increased across Vincent,\u201d Xamon said.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cUntil we gather accurate information, the total cost of management is difficult to determine but $500,000 is the minimum we must spend.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would estimate that around $1 million would be required next financial year for total management across Vincent.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is not sustainable and certainly not a cost that can be borne by ratepayers.<\/p>\n \u201cFor context, every $480,000 we are required to find over and above our core business translates to around a one per cent increase in rates.\u201d<\/p>\n She said although the state government\u2019s investment in the budget would go some way towards helping, \u201cit still falls short and there has been no indication on whether this will be a one-off or ongoing contribution\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is deeply concerning to see the huge majority of management costs shifted onto local government,\u201d Xamon said.<\/p>\n \u201cVincent is not alone. Managing PSHB will require millions of dollars which local governments across Perth are being asked to find on top of essential local services.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a figure far beyond what has been announced. Local governments can\u2019t rely on short-term or ad-hoc funding.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is difficult to get on top of an issue that has been in Vincent in four years without significant injection of resources.\u201d<\/p>\n Xamon said the City had been participating in a chemical trial with BioHerbicides Australia for over a year and more recently had purchased a multispectral drone to identify areas of stress in the trees.<\/p>\n Politicians in opposition have also called out the problem in parliament.<\/p>\n Member for Murray-Wellington David Bolt said the $4.8 million figure \u201ccompletely ignores\u201d advice on management costs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt always seems to be like: \u2018Here\u2019s a few dollars; the rest over to you, local government\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr said disaster recovery and climate resilience had been overlooked in the budget.<\/p>\n A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokesperson said a total of $77.8 million has been committed nationally to the response to shot-hole borer to date.<\/p>\n In addition, the state government has also committed around $13 million to \u201csupport the WA community transition\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe additional state funding includes $3.6 million in grants for inner Local Government Authorities to manage the invasive pest, including pruning or removing priority or infested trees, developing management plans, surveillance and community engagement,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother $2.17 million will fund three new research projects to help limit the spread of shot-hole borer, including investigating chemical treatments, through the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration.<\/p>\n \u201cBiosecurity is everyone\u2019s responsibility. Now the national shot-hole borer response is transitioning to management and the pest is considered established in the management zone, it is landholders\u2019 responsibility to manage their trees and decide on borer management options \u2013 as with other existing plant pests or diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n More than $30,000 in cash rebates have also been distributed to residents impacted by shot-hole borer as part of the state government\u2019s Tree Recovery Residential Rebate program.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779469816_737_e1073c46d6b464f65272081f17477868a4abe474.jpeg\")
The shot-hole borer attacks living trees by farming fungus.NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development<\/p>\n![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6f6431e3994cb98d315f8738e086ba6089923001.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Pictures](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7f975979ed61ea41efbfc8cbe9dfb59b27e3f337.jpeg\")
Pictures of the tree stumps left after tree removal due to the Polyphagous shot hole borer, on the edge of Kings Park, fronting Mounts Bay Road in Perth.Ross Swanborough<\/p>\n![\"Holly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3a21ade19e83efa5d41c479a92cf48548b357bb6.png\")
Holly Thompson<\/a> is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in education and the environment.Connect via X<\/a> or email<\/a>.From our partners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":675844,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[64,63,75,128],"class_list":["post-687733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-environment","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/687733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=687733"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/687733\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/675844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=687733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=687733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=687733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}