The Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) announced on 11 August 2026 that the Stable Fly Management Plan has been updated, with two additional shires now included in the declared pest area along the Swan Coastal Plain.
The Shires of Dandaragan and Victoria Plains have been added to the declaration under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act (2007), bringing the total number of local government areas covered to 15. Landholders within all declared areas carry a legal biosecurity obligation to actively manage stable fly on their properties using the prescribed control measures outlined in the updated Plan.
Declared Areas and Compliance Obligations
The full list of local government areas where stable fly is declared as a pest now includes:
- City of Armadale
- City of Cockburn
- City of Kwinana
- City of Rockingham
- City of Swan
- City of Wanneroo
- Shire of Capel
- Shire of Chittering
- Shire of Dandaragan (newly added)
- Shire of Gingin
- Shire of Harvey
- Shire of Kalamunda
- Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale
- Shire of Victoria Plains (newly added)
- Shire of Murray (part)
Landholders in these areas are not meeting their biosecurity obligations by passively monitoring the pest. The updated Plan specifies active control measures, and DPIRD is calling on primary producers and residents to apply them.
Operational Risk for Agritourism Properties
Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) is a blood-feeding pest that affects cattle, horses, people, and pets. For operators running farm stays, equestrian experiences, produce tours, or any visitor activity that involves contact with livestock or outdoor areas, an active stable fly population poses a direct risk to visitor comfort, animal welfare, and the overall perception of the operation.
The pest breeds rapidly in moist organic material. On working farms where agritourism runs alongside primary production, the combination of animal manure, compost heaps, grass clippings, and vegetable waste creates high-risk breeding conditions that can be difficult to manage during peak visitor seasons.
DPIRD’s updated guidance focuses on management of organic waste as the primary control lever. Operators whose properties fall within the declared areas should review current waste and manure handling practices against the amended Plan and its companion guide, both of which are available on the DPIRD website.
Actions for Operators in Declared Areas
Operators located within the 15 declared local government areas should treat the updated Plan as a compliance document, not an advisory one. Relevant steps include:
- Downloading the amended Stable Fly Management Plan and companion guide from the DPIRD website.
- Auditing current organic waste management practices on the property, including manure stockpiling, compost management, and disposal of vegetable and grass waste.
- Assessing visitor-facing areas, particularly those near livestock, for proximity to potential breeding sites.
- Confirming that staff responsible for property maintenance understand the prescribed control measures and the landholder’s legal obligations.
