Beekeepers’ livelihood destroyed

On July 5, 2022 one Varroa mite was transported to Narrabri, it was euthanised along with 350 other bee hives.

Through testing and monitoring between July and September, no Varroa mites were discovered in the Narrabri district.

At the end of September 2022, 650 of our hives were declared clean and Varroa mite free.

These bees were then euthanised at the end of September 2022.

All this after the Department of Primary Industries said they would not euthanise our bees and the red zone would be lifted.

After euthanising of bees, the requirement of 21 days is in place before dead bees can be cleaned out and disposed of.

Four months later, our boxes are still in the paddock.

DPI has instructed us not to touch or move them.

The boxes are now full of rotten bees, small hive beetle maggots and a putrid slimy mess.

Feral pigs have destroyed boxes and bee frames.

DPI reports that at a later date, we will have to clean up everything and transport hives to the Narrabri tip, where the shire has to bury everything. We will incur the costs.

DPI minister Dugald Saunders states beekeepers will be compensated for loss of bees and hive material.

After no income since October 2022, we were informed compensation would be paid on January 9 and 10, 2023.

On January 11, DPI phoned and informed us that no compensation was going to be paid.

We are still waiting for a letter to outline the reasons for non-payment.

We have not been found guilty of any wrongdoing.

After destroying over 20 years of hard work breeding isolated mated queen bees, honey production and almond pollination for the last 10 years, our income and livelihood is destroyed by the DPI’s inconsiderable approach to now deny us of compensation.

Some people have no conscience when it comes to putting financial strain on others, especially on women and kids.

Ray and Rhett Jones, Narrabri