Melbourne lockdown, beekeeping.

[damienpryan]

Hi All,

Does anyone know is the lockdown in Melbourne applies to hobby beekeepers.

I'd be thinking of reversing my hive bodies and putting bait hives out.

Or if I get called for a swarm?

My hives are more than 5km from my house in another part of Melbourne.

Cheers

Damien

[Skeggley]

Hi mate, I remember when we were in lockdown over here that as bees are a livestock it was an essential job to care for them however I?m sure your local beekeeping club would be in the know.
We feel for you mob over there, fingers crossed things start improving.

[Beelab]

As a hobby beekeeper, you don?t need to put bait hives out. Just put them near where you live to stay out of trouble. That way you can check them more often too.
Bees are livestock, so it?s essential that you look after them, but once every couple of weeks should do it in winter.
I saw a post today, where alleged beekeepers are trying to get around the restrictions by claiming they have a hive way away. Guess the authorities heard it all by now.
If you are properly registered, you should be able to get permission.
As a beekeeper working around bees in a bee suit, you are pretty socially distanced. 😶

[damienpryan]

Thanks guys.

Yes am registered as a beekeeper with Victorian Primary industries.

I was planning to move some hives, but I think I'd have an even harder time explaining why I was out after the 8:00 pm curfew.
I would not look forward to explaining to Vic pol that you only move beehives at night.

Lockdown is hard.
Mainly as I have kids that live in Albury so cannot see them for 10 weeks or so.