Strategy to help keep pests out

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is asking for public submissions on a draft Strategy that outlines how pests will be managed in the region during the next five years.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Acting Chief Executive Mary-Anne Macleod is encouraging people to read the draft Regional Pest Management Strategy made available today and give their feedback. Submissions must be with the Regional Council by 4pm, Tuesday November 30, 2010.

“This draft Strategy will guide the way we control pests in our region – it will affect our community and environment so we want to make sure we have got it right. Feedback from the community is crucial to ensure an effective Strategy,” Ms Macleod said.

The draft Strategy contains rules for the control of pest plants and pest animals across the Bay of Plenty. It sets out the roles and responsibilities for Council and all landowners and occupiers in the region.

“The draft Strategy identifies a set of key outcomes that we wish to see achieved, and some high level objectives and rules that need to be followed to help realise these outcomes,” Ms Macleod said.

“Pest management is a critical component of our Biosecurity system, and contributes to achieving the overall vision for Biosecurity in New Zealand where our unique natural resources, our plants and animals are all kept safe and secure from damaging pests and diseases” she said.

Achieving the outcomes of the draft Strategy will mean different things to different people. “For some it will mean clean water free from weeds, for others it will mean protecting Biodiversity and maintaining recreational and cultural values,” Ms MacLeod said.

“As a land owner or occupier you are responsible for managing pests”, she said. “The draft Regional Pest Management Strategy has rules in place, designed to help you with pest control and management. Therefore, it’s important that we understand your views on the rules and guidelines included in the draft Strategy.”

Drop-in days will be held across the region when staff will be available to discuss the draft Strategy. Following are the details of the drop-in days:

• Rotorua – Wednesday October 20, Regional Council office, 1125 Arawa Street, from 8am to 5pm.
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• Tauranga – Wednesday October 27, Regional Council office, 6 Rata Street from 8am to 5pm.
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• Katikati – Friday October 29, Resource Centre, 43 Beach Road, from noon to 6pm.
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• Opotiki - Monday November 1, Regional Council office, 72 Bridge Street, from 8am to 5pm.
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• Whakatane – Wednesday November 3, Regional Council office, 5 Quay Street, from 8am to 5pm.
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The document and submission forms can be accessed online at www.envbop.govt.nz or to request a hard copy, please call the Regional Council on 0800 368 267.

New gorse management rule for Rotorua and Ōkāreka

Recent work in the Lake Rotorua and Lake Ōkāreka catchments suggests gorse could be contributing large amounts of nitrogen to these lakes each year, which has a negative impact on water quality.

Controlling gorse could help protect water quality, and listing gorse as a ‘containment’ pest would ensure rules were in place to control gorse on all properties in the catchment area. In the draft Regional Pest Management Strategy, two options are proposed for a new gorse control rule in the Lake Ōkāreka and Lake Rotorua catchments.

Option one requires land owners and occupiers to destroy all gorse on land in the Rotorua and Ōkāreka catchments. This ensures gorse is actively controlled in the catchments, preventing negative impacts on water quality. However, this could be expensive for individual landowners, and the real benefits to water quality depends on what the land is used for after the gorse is removed.

Option two requires land owners and occupiers to control all gorse on land in the Rotorua and Ōkāreka catchments. This includes the natural or managed replacement of gorse with native plants, or planting tree crops on infested land. Option two will cost landowners less, however, water quality benefits may not be realised for many years.



The Regional Council wants to know what residents think of these options and is hosting open days in Rotorua and Ōkāreka to discuss both gorse control options.



• Ngongotahā Bowling Club, Rotorua.
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Thursday November 11, from 10am to 2pm.

• Ōkāreka Town Hall.
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Friday November 12, from 4:30pm to 8pm.

ENDS

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