One degree hotter: Bats, fruit fly risks to rise as climate change takes hold

A state government report, Central West and Orana Regional Plan 2036, has warned the potential effects of climate change in the area will see a drier and warmer climate with increased evaporation, more heat waves, extreme winds and fire risk.

It has forecast drier springs and wetter autumns, more short and intense storms, reduced stream flows by up to 30 per cent and average temperatures one degree hotter.

Orange branch chairman of the NSW Farmers Association, Bruce Reynolds, said warmer climates would lead to greater risks of pests.

He said there would be an increased prevalence of Queensland fruit fly and fruit bats.

“They may well stay here longer,” he said.

“They generally move on when it gets colder.’

Mr Reynolds said there would be an increased risk of disease if winter frosts reduced.

“Frosts over winter kill things off,” he said.

He said farmers would have to look at growing different varieties of cherries that could handle warmer temperatures and need less chilling time.

The report also said the planned Western Sydney airport and the potential to export produce through Canberra airport would become a “game changer” for agricultural exports from the Central West and Orana regions.

“Increased connectivity will enable the region to meet growing demand from Asia for exports of agriculture, minerals and tourism.”

Mr Reynolds said the new airport would assist the export of cherries, and some apples, to overseas markets.

However he said the infrastructure to support agricultural exports needed to be built at the airport.

“Cool rooms would be needed. You can’t just have produce sitting on the tarmac for hours.”

Mr Reynolds said an increase in passenger planes, rather than freight planes would help.

“A lot of our freight currently goes out under the feet of passengers.”

He said the road access to the airport needed to be improved including the building of an expressway through the Blue Mountains.

Mr Reynolds said bruising of apples in transit was a problem increased on rougher roads.

The report has also called for increased diversity in agricultural production and for stricter planning to reduce land use conflicts, particularly where residential land encroached on agricultural land.

Mr Reynolds said the right to farm and the need to farm had to be protected near rural residential blocks.