Council gets tough on contorta

A review of Horizon’s Regional Council’s Pest Plant Strategy will mean increased regulation around the removal of contorta pine from the Central Volcanic Plateau.

The Strategy is required under the Biosecurity Act and aims to prevent new incursions of pest plants while managing those already established in Horizons region.

Community involvement in the review has been high, and the submission process has led to several changes; including those around contorta pine.

Contorta pine is a highly aggressive weed which poses a particular threat across Volcanic Plateau, especially in Tongariro National Park.

“Under the new strategy Horizons will be working with all occupiers within the Volcanic Plateau to remove contorta pine,” says Greg Carlyon, Horizons group manager regional planning and regulatory.

Horizon’s tighter contorta regulations were originally appealed by Winstone Pulp International through the environment court.

“We’ve since negotiated with Winstones and believe we’ve reached a good environmental outcome,” says Mr Carlyon.

Horizon’s main focus for contorta will be the protection of the Volcanic Plateau and the maintenance of a buffer around the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges

“I’d like to acknowledge the New Zealand Defence Force and community volunteers, who have been strong supporters of these tougher regulations, and the Department of Conservation who have supplied technical support and advice,” says Mr Carlyon.

There have been several other changes to the strategy; an increased number of environmental pest plant species, a surveillance programme which will search for species not currently in the Region, and a Monitoring programme which will collect information on lesser-known species in the region.

The Pest Plant Strategy will become operative on 24 September 2007 and will be publicly notified in newspapers around the region.

Horizons offer a free advisory service on pest plants through their 24hr freephone 0508 800 800, this includes advice on identifying pest plants and various control options.

Background on Contorta pine:

Contorta pine (or lodgepole pine) was introduced in the 1880’s but became widespread in the 1930’s.

A highly aggressive plant it can grow in a wide range of habitats, contorta seeds are spread easily via wind (up to 30km), leading to invasion of ungrazed land and competition with commercial species within plantation forests.

In our region it is a particular threat across the Volcanic Plateau, especially in Tongariro National Park.

A control programme, including hours of independent volunteer work, has been underway in this area for several years, which is slowly bringing the contorta under control.

The control project involves Horizons Regional Council, Department of conservation, Wanganui tramping club, Maori landowners, New Zealand Army and Winstone Pulp International (the owners of Kariori forest). These groups work independently but collaboratively under Horizons as the pest management authority.

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