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Locusts reach Melbourne's northern edge
16 Apr 2004
Locusts that have plagued NSW in the past two months have reached the northern outskirts of Melbourne. A small outbreak was reported this week at Mount Disappointment, near Wallan, close to homes and livestock. It's the first time locusts have been recorded in the area. The most significant sighting was in Broadford, 80km north of Melbourne.
The Australian Plague Locust Commission said locusts have migrated into Victoria only three times since 1975, but never so far south. There are not enough to do more than minimal damage, however, and there's little chance they will breed in the dry conditions.
The APLC has sent experts to the NSW-Victoria border to check if more locusts have crossed into Victoria. Small swarms spotted south and east of Wangaratta and Benalla are also being monitored.
The locusts are part of an outbreak caused by February floods in northern NSW and southern Queensland. They have moved through Dubbo and Wagga searching for food in the drought.
The Age, 15/4/04.
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