Flies challenge tourists

Geographe Bay Tourism Association will renew pleas for the State Government to address the fly numbers which it says is having an increasing impact on the region’s tourist sector.

The association’s marketing manager Sharna Holben said the association would appeal to Tourism Minister Kim Hames to work with the industry to find a solution to the increase in bush flies in the Busselton and Dunsborough region.

She said there was no doubt the flies had a negative impact on visitors’ experience in Geographe Bay.

“The feedback we’ve had so far does say it’s worse than last year,” Ms Holben said.

Dunsborough Cottages owner Richard Courtney agreed flies appeared to be increasing compared to previous years and had impacted on the tourist trade which was already struggling with decreasing visitation.

“A few of our people who have stayed with us have said “wow, great place but we won’t be coming back because of the flies,” he said.

Mr Courtney said guests were reporting a prominence of flies in tourist areas at Meelup, Castle Rock and Bunker Bay which had affected weddings as well as general visitation.

He said flies could also have contributed to a decrease in his business’s bookings for January and February compared to last year.

Mr Courtney said it was the State Government’s responsibility to introduce spring-active dung beetles to the South West to reduce food for flies “Our economy is pretty dependent on tourism, so to not do anything about it is just ridiculous,” he said.

Dunsborough Yallingup Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Louis De Chiera said flies were an annual problem in the region.

While he had not received any feedback so far this year, Mr De Chiera said he would take action upon a significant response from chamber members.

Last month the Times reported the State Government rejected Busselton Shire Council’s request to introduce spring-active dung beetles due to failed trials in the eastern States.

Agriculture Minister Terry Redman said beetles and flies co-existed in a way which did not happen in summer and there were few agricultural impacts from bush flies.