The NSW and Australian governments have announced an $18 million package to support beekeepers affected by the Varroa mite outbreak.

Registered recreational beekeepers impacted by Varroa mite in the eradication (red) zone and commercial beekeepers in the eradication and surveillance (red and purple) zones can now access reimbursement payments via the Varroa Mite Response program.

To be eligible for reimbursement, applicants must be a registered beekeeper with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), have had honeybee colonies and/or hives and equipment destroyed (this varies dependent on zone) as a direct result of the Varroa mite emergency response and meet other criteria as outlined in the relevant program guidelines.

DPI Authorised Officers will provide impacted beekeepers with details of how they can apply for reimbursement including a link to the application form.

In the eradication (red) zone:

Registered commercial beekeepers and registered recreational beekeepers are both eligible for reimbursement.

As previously announced, reimbursement for registered recreational beekeepers is:

• $550 payment for each recreational hive destroyed to control the mite outbreak

• $200 for those who wish to keep their hive ware, which will cover the cost of the euthanised bees

• $200 for each single nucleus hive that is euthanised.

In the surveillance (purple) zone:

Registered commercial beekeepers impacted by Varroa mite in the surveillance (purple) zone can now access reimbursement payments under the agreed National Response Plan.

Commercial beekeepers have two voluntary options for financial reimbursement, as follows:

• Option 1: Euthanasia of bees - $290.00 (nucleus colony with five frames) plus $7.85 per additional brood box frame (maximum of five frames).

Or, if beekeepers chose not to euthanasia bees:

• Option 2: The value of products forgone (honey) - 1 hive of honey minus costs of production: $117.00.

For both the eradication (red) and surveillance (purple) zones the Owner Reimbursement Costs (ORC) reimbursements are once-off payments.

NOTE:  If you are a commercial beekeeper who has been paid under the reimbursement option in the purple zone, and your area is later declared an eradication red zone, you will receive the red zone reimbursement minus the purple zone reimbursement already paid.

Eradicating Varroa mite from NSW is the priority, and this response aims to give beekeepers in NSW the resources and support to be able to get back to business once the outbreak has been contained.

What should I do?

To be eligible for reimbursement, applicants

• must be a registered beekeeper with NSW DPI

• have had honeybee colonies and/or hives and equipment destroyed as a direct result of the Varroa mite emergency response (in the eradication (red) zone).

• be a commercial beekeeper (in the surveillance (purple) zone).

• meet other criteria as outlined in the program guidelines.

Authorised Officers record evidence and the details of all hives and colonies impacted by the Varroa mite emergency response. The evidence recorded informs the Rural Assistance Authority, who is responsible for payment of reimbursement.

You don’t need to take any action until you are contacted by an Authorised Officer with the relevant information.

Authorised Officers will provide impacted beekeepers with details of how to apply for reimbursement including a link to the application form.