W.A quarantine problem. How do I eat.

thanks Andrew

Hi Andrew - only makes sense if everyone had to go through Norseman. About half the travellers don't.

Motherhen

Who has first hand experience of the dreadful effect of plant disease getting into the state.

Clearly there would need to be a zone introduced, but there is nothing grown East of Norseman...

Whether you go through Norseman or not isn't the issue...

Cheers,
Andrew who believes that 99% or more of Nullarbor traffic would go through Norseman.

Hi Andrew - So many of the "grey nomads" go to Esperance - to 'follow the coast' on their lap around Oz. Count the caravans and campers compared to other traffic on the Nullabor - around 99%. Rest is mainly regular road trains, who would know the rules well.

Unfortunately, the good must pay the penalty for the extreme minority who do the wrong thing. They wouldn't need the road block checks if they found everyone did the right thing. Until that happens (and pigs fly) they will need the border checks. Ever watched how much they confiscate?

These days people cross the Nularbor on two or three days - and can still have purchases of fresh produce with them if they do not realise their obligations.

Motherhen

on a subject close to home

Oops Andrew- I retract that response - I just tried to re-arrange the map! Must be too long in the desert. Yes i agree 99% go through Norseman.

I do think that zones confuse travellers - simpler to have everything at the border then they know. We use to have fruit fly exclusion zones with honesty bins (sometimes manned) a bit like they have in SA. Dismal failure and fruit fly was soon throughout the clean zones. I say leave the station at the border - why would you want it changed to Norseman?

Mh

Hi Mh,

Firstly there is nothing (no primary production) to protect on the Nullarbor and there are no outlets of any consequence... but there are many people who might come into WA with no intention of going anywhere near Norseman...

I, for instance, have gone in to Eyre Bird and then along the Telegraph Track to Israelite Bay.

There are no growing areas that need protecting out there.

But I am not allowed to eat potatoes or onions or fresh fruit for that 3 week trip because it is a no exceptions rule. There is no retail outlet on the WA side of the border where you can stock up.

Similarly if I were to go up the Connie Sue (or down it from the A-B for that matter).

It is just a plain farce...

Exclusion Zones should be policed as they are in SA during the season (whether on the border or not)... what is the difference whether you police it at Norseman or the Border? Nothing. And put up big signs on the entries to the zones, and you have a workable system.

Andrew,
The WA check point used to be at Norseman, I have a house there.
Strangely enough the whole town is riddled with fruit fly, maybe that is why they moved it to the actual border. Bit late though.

Cheers,
Dennis

Hi Andrew - Solution is simple. Come and live in the biggest and best State - WA.


Motherhen

Heading towards WA tomorrow

Hi Dennis

We did a mini shop at the supermarket yesterday (milk bread veges) and found prices on these reasonable considering the remoteness. The veges seemed quite fresh too. Couldn't find much else i wanted that wasn't at obscene prices, and mostly 'gourmet' lines rather than 'normal' groceries. They and all places here charge a 1% credit card surcharge; same at Kings Canyon.

Shame about fruit fly - honesty bins just don't work, and even with manned check points, there is always some clown who tries to 'smuggle' something in, or just forgets about the apple in the lunchbox or whatever. There is still a lot of trust with inspections. They do get a 'feel' for picking the right person to thoroughly search. More of a worry to us are weed seeds, such as the nasty ES burrs. With so many travellers, they are lilely to come in on shoes, dogs, dog bedding, camping gear etc.

Mh

Willem, you say "may be able" to get a written certification from the supermarket in Ceduna. I know you have travelled a fair bit and your comment got me wondering whether this is for certain or something you have heard from other sources? I plan to travel across to the west in the near future and have been weighing up what to do about perishable food once through the border check point.

If what you are suggesting is the practise then taking my time travelling across the Nullabor shouldn't be a problem.

Does the supermarket apply any charge for this service or are their prices enough to cover?

Its a very good question raised in the first place though which I'm sure many travelling from the East to the West need to know and prepare for.

Thanks for any info Willem.

Cheers.

I note Willem said "maybe able" - check with WA quarantine first.

PeterD

PauMac

This from another site:

Travelling into Western Australia

Prohibited items

· Fresh fruit and vegetables* unless certified in State or Territory of origin

· Home-dried fruit and vegetables which have not been dried to commercial standards

· Frozen raw apple, grape, stone fruit, paw-paw, blueberry, mango with skin or seed attached, unpeeled potato and onion

· Raw walnuts in shells

· Honey and other hive products unless certified as heat-treated

· Bees and apiary equipment• Hay/fodder

· Weeds and weed seeds

· Soil (including soil in plant pots)

· Used agricultural/horticultural containers (such as potato sacks, wheat/seed bags, chaff bags, fruit/vegetable cartons)

· Plants* (including cut flowers and foliage)

· Seeds*

* Some fresh fruit, vegetables, plants and seeds are classed as Restricted, which means they are allowed entry under certain conditions.


Plants classed as Restricted must be certified and soil-free. Seeds classed as Restricted must be identified by species name and free from


contaminant seeds; some must be certified as free from particular pests and diseases. Visit www.agric.wa.gov.au/quarantine for entry

requirements.

Permitted items

· Commercially packaged dried fruit and vegetables except for apple and loquat with peel

· Frozen raw fruit and vegetables except for those listed above as prohibited

· Nuts except for raw walnuts in shells

· Fresh fish

· Dairy products

· Meat products

· Processed foods such as biscuits, fruit-cake, fruit juice, cordial and dried packet foods such as polished rice except for unmilled rice
>
>
>
I have scoured WA Quarantine sites but have found no direct link on how to get Fruit and Veg Certified. It has all been hearsay that is why I stated 'may be'.

I comply with the regulations and plan my trips so that after crossing the border we can shop at the earliest convenience. Up to that time we live off meat, tinned foods or pasta


Cheers

Thanks Willem,

I'm sure Ian will find this info as useful as I have.

Thanks Willem, Paul and Pete. I will follow-up on some of these things.
Ian

Hi Willem

I haven't tried, but i doubt it would be acceptable these days.

Gone are the days when we could say the potatoes came from WA - showing the label on the bag (after a short trip).

I have given up using strawberry trays for storage in my larder and reverted to plastic, as any fruit or vege box - even if clearly labelled as from WA will have to go.

Common sense does prevail. When we left Kununura, with next town on the schedule expected to be Alice Springs, i stocked up on the lovely local produce. We went to the Keep River NP and discovered the hot metal smell and headed back to Kununurra in haste. Got to the border - oh no - all that produce. I explained the situation to the inspector, who asked for my dockets. I showed her these with the veges, and the melons purchased at the Saturday Markets with no dockets, and all was well. She also said that people heading out into the NP for a day or two can leave their vege at the border station for collection on return.

These quaratine procedures are essential, even though they may seem extreme on occasions. Someone some time does try to do the wrong thing.

Motherhen

Thanks BT.
I will make a few calls and follow the leads.
Ian

I have peeleed onions and potatoes well - no chance of soil - and had them pass inspection. They last a few days when wrapped in plastic without refrigeration. Basically though we have a cook up of any leftover veges the night before getting to the border. Really, you can survive on dried or tinned fruit and vege until you get to Norseman or which ever is the next major town you pass through. This is vital to WA.

Motherhen

thanks Dunc

Ru also going to tell me all W.A dogs have fleas and the women are ugly?

Ian,
YES.

Thanks Michael,
I will check it out
ian

Thanks Michael,
I will check it out
ian

Motherhen,
There is a good little 'supermarket' at Yulara if you need to restock. I always found the prices weren't too bad.
The 'Quarantine' checkpoint/bin is just before Laverton on your way down, never manned as it is based on honesty.

Cheers,
Dennis