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Some NSW beekeeping restrictions eased

NSW beekeepers outside of varroa mite eradication zones are beginning to work their hives again after some restrictions, put in place to contain the varroa mite, were eased, AAP reports.

The mite has been found in 38 properties in NSW, with new detections at the weekend at Jerrys Plains, Denman and Heatherbrae in the Hunter region.

The mite, which was first identified during routine surveillance at the Port of Newcastle on 22 June, has also been found along the central coast, around Bulahdelah on the north coast, and at a property at Narrabri in the north-west of the NSW.

As of Monday 1,567 hives had been euthanised, with more than 15 million bees destroyed.

A statewide emergency order remains in place in NSW which stops hives being moved, but beekeepers outside of eradication zones can now work their hives, removing frames for honey extraction as well as place empty supers on full hives.

Danny Le Feuvre from the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council welcomed the latest changes to the emergency order and said authorities are still hopeful they can eradicate the mite.

The area is growing in size but at this stage we’re still confident that we can contain it, and then work through the eradication process.

The NSW government said it’s putting on an additional 26 compliance and surveillance officers to manage risk to facilitate key pollination events and ensure business continuity.