Table of Contents
By Phil Burkitt
I first noticed strange yellow dust on the new shoots of his trees, it wasn’t until he saw the tips curling, the leaves blistering, and the flowers collapsing that I realised something was very wrong.
A Fungus from Abroad
Myrtle rust is a plant disease caused by the fungus Austropuccinia psidii, native to South America. It affects plants in the Myrtaceae family which includes eucalypts, melaleucas, lilly pillies, and many of the rainforest species that shape our landscape.
The disease appears as bright yellow powdery rust on young leaves, shoots, and flowers. It weakens plants, destroys new growth, and can kill seedlings outright.
First detected on the Central Coast of New South Wales in 2010, the fungal rust quickly spread north and south. Despite a $5 million eradication attempt by the NSW Government, it could not be contained. By 2012, it had reached Victoria and Far North Queensland.
With up to 80% of Australia’s native trees belonging to the myrtle family, the fungus is now considered one of the greatest biological threats to our forests and ecosystems.
The Impact for Hawkesbury
Around two thirds of Hawkesbury Local Government Area is composed of National Parks and reserves. Our whole ecosystem here the shelter trees, the windbreaks, even the native plantings we’ve put in over the years many of them are Myrtaceae. When you see the new shoots covered in that yellow rust, you start thinking about what it means for the bush around us.
Myrtle rust spreads invisibly on the wind, threatening everything from backyard lilly pillies to vast stands of eucalypt forest. And the flow-on effects are alarming. Native animals like lorikeets, flying foxes, and honeyeaters rely on the nectar and fruit of Myrtaceae species. As the rust damages flowers and fruiting bodies, the food chain itself comes under strain.
A National Challenge & Hawkesbury is at the front line
In response to the outbreak, the Australian Government established the Myrtle Rust Coordination Group and committed over $1.5 billion to research and management. While eradication is no longer possible, the national plan aims to ensure that no species or ecosystems are lost entirely to the disease.
The Hawkesbury is home to rich biodiversity and a proud farming tradition. If this fungus takes hold the way they say it can, it changes everything the bush, the wildlife, the farms, even our gardens.
📌 Have you spotted Myrtle Rust in your garden or on your property? The NSW Department of Primary Industries urges residents to report sightings via the Biosecurity Hotline on 1800 680 244.
