Varroa update: euthanasia of hives on the Central Coast
Biosecurity (Varroa Mite) Order No.23 is now in effect in NSW
The current situation
This week the yellow (notification) zone was removed from the Biosecurity Emergency map. This indicates increased confidence that the varroa incursion is contained in the red (eradication) zone.
Work is now underway as planned to euthanise bees in the red zones. Over the next week, field crews will be working in the Central Coast red zone.
If your hives are located in the Central Coast red zone, now is the time to remove the honey supers from your hives - see below for more details.
Where are your hives?
Find out which zone your hives are in by entering the address in the search box on the interactive map.
If your hives are located in a red (eradication) or purple (surveillance) zone, you MUST report the location of your hives to the DPI via the Beekeeper Notifications - Varroa mite online form or by calling the Hotline on 1800 084 881 (9am to 5pm, 7 days a week). You can also use this form to report feral hives in the red and purple zones.
If your hives are in the red (eradication) zone, you must not move, disturb, interfere with or feed bees, including by removing honey or honey comb from a hive. The only exceptions are:
Swarm prevention in the red zone - As long as your hives are not located at Infected or Suspect Premises, you may add an empty super (which contains empty frames and has not been exposed to bees for 21 days) to your hive to reduce the risk of swarming.
Removing honey supers prior to euthanasia - see information below.
Catching swarms - registered beekeepers are allowed to catch swarms in the red and purple zones, but only for the purposes of euthanasing the bees. You may move the bees to another location to euthanase them.
There are strict rules around biosecurity and decontamination, so please check the Order before you undertake any work on your hives.
Important information for beekeepers in the Central Coast red zone
All registered beekeepers with hives in the Central Coast red (eradication) zone will be contacted by the DPI this week, regarding the euthanasia of all managed hives.
Removing honey supers from hives
You are now allowed to remove honey supers from your hives in the red zone. You do not need to wait for the DPI to call you first.
The Biosecurity Order allows you to remove the entire honey super (not individual frames), and move the honey super to an enclosed, bee proof space, for the purpose of extracting honey. The super can be stored until you are ready to extract honey, and does not need to be returned to the hive before euthanasia.
Removing honey supers from hives - Flow hives
If you have a Flow hive, you may remove the honey via the tap, before removing and storing your Flow super in a bee-proof manner. This means you can retain your Flow super, and still receive the full $550 compensation for the remaining base, brood box and lid.
Compensation for recreational beekeepers
Registered recreational beekeepers will be reimbursed at a flat rate of $550 for each hive (or $200 per nuc) which is euthanised and disposed of by the DPI.
For the purposes of reimbursement, a hive is defined as a base, brood box and lid, with or without any number of supers. The reimbursement is the same for a single, double, or triple.
This means you can retain your honey super, and still receive the full $550 compensation for the remaining base, brood box and lid.
If you wish to retain your external hiveware (base, box(es) and lid), you will be reimbursed at the lower rate $200 per hive, but will be responsible for disposing of the contents of the hive (including all frames, honey, wax and dead bees) yourself. As the euthanasia is carried out using petrol, the internal parts of the hive must be disposed of, and cannot be reused.
Compensation for commercial beekeepers
If you are a commercial beekeeper you will be reimbursed under the Owner Reimbursement Costs (ORC) framework.
The rates are more complicated than for recreational reimbursement, because they take into account the size and depth of each component of the euthanased hive. Commercial beekeepers will not be compensated for honey supers which have been removed prior to euthanasia, but the value of lost honey is factored into the reimbursement calculations.
Are you a commercial or recreational beekeeper?
You should check and update your DPI registration details, but bear in mind that business registration is not defined by the number of hives that you own. Business registration is for those deriving an income (part time/full time business) from the sale of bees or hive products (eg. honey, beeswax). If you are unsure and would like assistance in determining whether you are running a business please visit www.business.gov.au. There is no fee charged for the variation of a beekeeper registration.
In order to claim the commercial rates of compensation for hive euthanasia, you will need to be able to demonstrate that you are engaged in a beekeeping business by providing your ABN and associated tax records.
If you are not eligible for commercial reimbursement you will be able to claim as a recreational beekeeper.
Outside the red zone
Moving bees
For the eradication program to be successful, it is vital to eliminate the spread of varroa. For this reason you still must not move hives or bees anywhere in NSW, unless you are a commercial beekeeper who has been issued with a Biosecurity Emergency Movement Permit.
Swarms
Registered beekeepers are allowed to catch, move (once only) and retain swarms in the blue (general emergency) zone.
The swarm must be checked for mites by alcohol wash before being moved.
Swarms may only be kept in brand new or irradiated hives.
If you are aware of feral bees in the red or purple zones please report them using the online form at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hives or call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881.
If there is any danger to public safety please call 000 immediately.
Handling bees, splitting hives and extracting honey
If you are outside the red (eradication) zone, you are now allowed to work your bees as long as the hives are not moved from their current location. You may also split hives and extract honey, but please be aware there are strict rules which you must follow. Please refer to the current Biosecurity Order for details.
Report bees moved from the Newcastle region in the past year
Regardless of where you live, if you have acquired honeybees (including queen bees, nucleus hives and hives with honeybees) from the Newcastle region in the past 12 months, please report this to the DPI, to help us detect and eradicate the varroa mite.
Report these honeybees using the DPI’s online reporting form.
Outside NSW?
For the latest news on how your state authority is responding to the NSW varroa emergency, check the following links:
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Queensland beekeepers are encouraged to report all varroa mite check results at Bee 123
What do you know?
If you have questions about varroa mites, why not enrol in Tocal College’s free online varroa training cousre?
The course is a requirement for all commercial beekeepers wishing to apply for movement permits, but it is freely available to anyone interested in learning more about varroa.
TIP: Once you complete the course you can upload your certificate as part of your training record in your Journal in the ABA Portal.
We need you!
With surveillance operations now taking place at several locations around NSW, we need even more volunteers to assist with essential field work. If you are an ABA member (or a member of any other AHBIC member body) and are willing to help, look out for an email with details about volunteering.
You are not alone
These are distressing times for all beekeepers, but for those in the red zone most of all.
Please be sensitive to your fellow club members’ suffering and be kind to each other.
The R U OK? Mateship Manual provides guidance and tips to help you support a family member, friend, neighbour or workmate affected by a natural disaster or an emergency now and into the future.
To learn the signs that someone might be struggling and how to ask them "are you OK?" and provide support download your free digital copy now.
Support for beekeepers
There are free and confidential support services available to beekeepers during this difficult time.
Accessing small business and mental health and well-being support early is encouraged. The services listed below are open to all beekeepers: large or small, urban or rural. The friendly staff understand the situation and can connect you with the help you need.
Small business support is available to beekeepers through
Rural Financial Counselling Service on 1800 344 090
Small Biz Connect on 1300 134 359
The Rural Financial Counselling Service will support all beekeepers and will connect you with suitable services depending on your situation.
The Rural Financial Counselling Service can assist with assessing eligibility of beekeepers to the Farm Household Allowance.
Business owners are encouraged to speak with their banking institution and/or lenders to discuss their situation and develop a plan together.
The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program is available to support beekeepers who would like to chat about their situation, and they can refer you to other services. Call Matthew Milne on 0437 989 044.
Beekeepers in the Central Coast region can call the Central Coast Local Health District on 02 43 202952 to discuss mental health and wellbeing.
You can call the NSW Mental Health Line for yourself, or if you are concerned about someone. This line is open 24 hours, 7 days a week on 1800 011 511.
Charitable assistance is available to support households with items such as food and groceries, household items and household bill support. Charities such as Rural Aid will provide support to commercial beekeepers.
Sheila Stokes, assisted by Linda Winn, is the ABA’s Industry Liaison Officer at the Local Control Centre in Maitland.
If you are interested in understanding how the Emergency Response is organised, you will find a wealth of information on the Plant Health Australia website.
Have a specific query? Contact us on beehelp@beekeepers.asn.au