A WA parliamentary question addresses research, control, and beekeeping practices related to feral bees in Western Australia, referencing past trials, ongoing programs, and research in South Australia.

AnsweredQoN 183Legislative Council
Asked
2 April 2004
Portfolio
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

(1) What research has been done or is being undertaken on the increase and impact of feral bees in Western Australia? (2) Are any projects being implemented to control or eradicate feral bees in Western Australia? (3) What research has been done or will be undertaken to abandon beekeeping in places such as national parks and other reserves? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of this question. (1) I understand that in 2002 the Department of Conservation and Land Management commissioned a project to research the effect of honeybees on the biota and the effect of feral honeybees on the biota. I understand that the project report is due to be released in the near future. (2) In 1995 a trial by the Department of Agriculture of chemical control of feral bees gave poor results. The cockatoo program, chaired by Bob Humphries from the Water Corporation and with representatives of a number of community groups and other government agencies, including the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and the WA Museum, is currently meeting with the aim of developing a long-term solution to the issue of feral honeybees in WA. (3) I am not aware of any research in Western Australia. Research undertaken in South Australia on honeybees in the Ngarkat Conservation Park found that bees were having a positive effect on increasing seed yield in Banksia oviata heathlands and that removing bees or restricting commercial apiarists could be deleterious to the park.
(2) Are any projects being implemented to control or eradicate feral bees in Western Australia? (3) What research has been done or will be undertaken to abandon beekeeping in places such as national parks and other reserves? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of this question. (1) I understand that in 2002 the Department of Conservation and Land Management commissioned a project to research the effect of honeybees on the biota and the effect of feral honeybees on the biota. I understand that the project report is due to be released in the near future. (2) In 1995 a trial by the Department of Agriculture of chemical control of feral bees gave poor results. The cockatoo program, chaired by Bob Humphries from the Water Corporation and with representatives of a number of community groups and other government agencies, including the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and the WA Museum, is currently meeting with the aim of developing a long-term solution to the issue of feral honeybees in WA. (3) I am not aware of any research in Western Australia. Research undertaken in South Australia on honeybees in the Ngarkat Conservation Park found that bees were having a positive effect on increasing seed yield in Banksia oviata heathlands and that removing bees or restricting commercial apiarists could be deleterious to the park.
(3) What research has been done or will be undertaken to abandon beekeeping in places such as national parks and other reserves? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of this question. (1) I understand that in 2002 the Department of Conservation and Land Management commissioned a project to research the effect of honeybees on the biota and the effect of feral honeybees on the biota. I understand that the project report is due to be released in the near future. (2) In 1995 a trial by the Department of Agriculture of chemical control of feral bees gave poor results. The cockatoo program, chaired by Bob Humphries from the Water Corporation and with representatives of a number of community groups and other government agencies, including the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and the WA Museum, is currently meeting with the aim of developing a long-term solution to the issue of feral honeybees in WA. (3) I am not aware of any research in Western Australia. Research undertaken in South Australia on honeybees in the Ngarkat Conservation Park found that bees were having a positive effect on increasing seed yield in Banksia oviata heathlands and that removing bees or restricting commercial apiarists could be deleterious to the park.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of this question. (1) I understand that in 2002 the Department of Conservation and Land Management commissioned a project to research the effect of honeybees on the biota and the effect of feral honeybees on the biota. I understand that the project report is due to be released in the near future. (2) In 1995 a trial by the Department of Agriculture of chemical control of feral bees gave poor results. The cockatoo program, chaired by Bob Humphries from the Water Corporation and with representatives of a number of community groups and other government agencies, including the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and the WA Museum, is currently meeting with the aim of developing a long-term solution to the issue of feral honeybees in WA. (3) I am not aware of any research in Western Australia. Research undertaken in South Australia on honeybees in the Ngarkat Conservation Park found that bees were having a positive effect on increasing seed yield in Banksia oviata heathlands and that removing bees or restricting commercial apiarists could be deleterious to the park.
I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of this question. (1) I understand that in 2002 the Department of Conservation and Land Management commissioned a project to research the effect of honeybees on the biota and the effect of feral honeybees on the biota. I understand that the project report is due to be released in the near future. (2) In 1995 a trial by the Department of Agriculture of chemical control of feral bees gave poor results. The cockatoo program, chaired by Bob Humphries from the Water Corporation and with representatives of a number of community groups and other government agencies, including the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and the WA Museum, is currently meeting with the aim of developing a long-term solution to the issue of feral honeybees in WA. (3) I am not aware of any research in Western Australia. Research undertaken in South Australia on honeybees in the Ngarkat Conservation Park found that bees were having a positive effect on increasing seed yield in Banksia oviata heathlands and that removing bees or restricting commercial apiarists could be deleterious to the park.
(1) I understand that in 2002 the Department of Conservation and Land Management commissioned a project to research the effect of honeybees on the biota and the effect of feral honeybees on the biota. I understand that the project report is due to be released in the near future. (2) In 1995 a trial by the Department of Agriculture of chemical control of feral bees gave poor results. The cockatoo program, chaired by Bob Humphries from the Water Corporation and with representatives of a number of community groups and other government agencies, including the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and the WA Museum, is currently meeting with the aim of developing a long-term solution to the issue of feral honeybees in WA. (3) I am not aware of any research in Western Australia. Research undertaken in South Australia on honeybees in the Ngarkat Conservation Park found that bees were having a positive effect on increasing seed yield in Banksia oviata heathlands and that removing bees or restricting commercial apiarists could be deleterious to the park.
(2) In 1995 a trial by the Department of Agriculture of chemical control of feral bees gave poor results. The cockatoo program, chaired by Bob Humphries from the Water Corporation and with representatives of a number of community groups and other government agencies, including the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and the WA Museum, is currently meeting with the aim of developing a long-term solution to the issue of feral honeybees in WA. (3) I am not aware of any research in Western Australia. Research undertaken in South Australia on honeybees in the Ngarkat Conservation Park found that bees were having a positive effect on increasing seed yield in Banksia oviata heathlands and that removing bees or restricting commercial apiarists could be deleterious to the park.
(3) I am not aware of any research in Western Australia. Research undertaken in South Australia on honeybees in the Ngarkat Conservation Park found that bees were having a positive effect on increasing seed yield in Banksia oviata heathlands and that removing bees or restricting commercial apiarists could be deleterious to the park.

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