Young’s economic development committee hosted the breakfast meeting with the orchardists and a number of councillors in the Young Shire Council Chambers to gain a deeper insight into the industry.

They also explored opportunities for development and discussed any impediments to the fruit industry’s future growth.

The meeting’s outcome was raised at council’s monthly meeting that night, and with it six recommendations for action.

Councillor Brian Ingram said he understood there was a sense of urgency to eradicate the Queensland Fruit Fly, one of the impediments that was raised at the breakfast meeting.

“At the moment it is the major road block for our fruit industry... [and] overseas exporting,” Cr Ingram told his fellow councillors.

He called for an awareness and education campaign so people knew the impacts an “innocent garden or tree” had on the industry and how important it was.

He also said equipment to help eradicate the fruit fly needed to be available to everyone.

General manager Peter Vlatko told the meeting the six recommendations that came out of that morning’s meeting were put forward to their meeting so quickly “because it was a significant opportunity to go forward”.

One of the main proposals was for the district’s current Young and Harden Fruit Protection Group to expand its scope and membership to become the Fruit Industry Committee for Young and Harden.

Remaining requests surrounded plans for council to have a stronger representation on the committee; more communication with council and the community on important issues affecting the industry and economic stability of the region; and for local government to have greater involvement by supporting initiatives of the fruit industry in Young and Harden.

The Young and Harden Fruit Protection Group will set a strategy for their expansion and will further engage with local government on ways they can help to control the pest.

There was also a request for mayor John Walker to write to the mayor of Harden seeking his support for the recommendations.