Colac Otway sprays Birregurra elms to kill beetles

THE Colac Otway Shire has engaged a specialist contractor to treat an infestation of elm leaf beetle in the roadside elms in Birregurra.

The contractor will treat 30 English elms (Ulmus procera) along the roadside in the township, which range from lightly to heavily affected with the beetle infestation.

If left untreated, trees initially will lose their leaves and eventually die from the beetle infestation.

Colac Otway acting chief executive officer Robert Dobrzynski said the beetle infestation defoliated the trees, and that affected trees were able to cope with the condition for a while but it would eventually kill them.

“Birregurra’s trees had an infestation of elm leaf beetle years ago but we haven’t seen it for a long time. We want to get onto it early before it becomes a bigger problem.

“The work will take place in May and after they’ve been treated they should look a lot better in spring.”

The contractor will also treat a small infestation of elm leaf beetle in trees in Hugh Murray Reserve near Barongarook Creek.