ALL commercial plants potentially carrying an exotic disease on two properties in NSW will be destroyed in a bid to contain the spread of myrtle rust.
The fungal disease, which can cause serious damage to eucalypts and flowering native plants, was first detected in Australia at a flower farm in NSW in April.
The National Management Group last week agreed to intensify attempts to suppress and eradicate myrtle rust, an airborne disease found on six properties in the Wyong and Gosford local government areas, which are now under quarantine.
The move followed criticism by plant health experts and forestry industry groups of the handling of the disease outbreak, which the NMG initially deemed could not be eradicated.
New measures to prevent its spread include the destruction and disposal of all commercial myrtaceae plants on the two most severely infected properties, increased use of fungicides and the inspection of susceptible plants growing in the gardens of about 310 houses in the quarantine area.
"While every effort is being made to suppress the disease with the aim of eradication, the NMG recognises that eradication may not be possible," the group said in a statement.
"Rust spores are highly transportable and can be spread via contaminated clothing, insect movement and wind dispersal."
Forestry health researcher Dr Caroline Mohammed, who urged authorities to try to eradicate the rust in May, said the change of heart could prove to be "too little too late".
Dr Mohammed said the disease, described internationally as guava rust, could cause significant damage to forest hardwoods, garden plants, cut flowers and posed a threat to a large proportion of Australia's world heritage-listed rainforest.
A Federal Department of Agriculture spokeswoman said it remained unclear where the disease had come from or how it had reached Australia.
