Councils work together on kiwifruit disease

For immediate release: 19 November 2010

Kiwifruit vines in the Western Bay of Plenty affected by the bacterial disease Psa are being transported to the rural TECT All Terrain Park 29km south of Tauranga on SH 36 and stockpiled in preparation for incineration.

Councils in the Bay of Plenty are joining forces to assist in controlling the kiwifruit disease outbreak. Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Chairman and Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council Mayors said they had been asked by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to take all necessary measures to help contain the Psa outbreak, including assisting with incinerating the affected vines.

In a joint statement they said there was an urgent need to avoid, mitigate or remedy adverse effects on the environment as a result of the outbreak and to do as much as possible to help protect kiwifruit orchards in the district.

During the past week the councils have worked with MAF to identify a site suitable for incinerating Psa material within a remote area of the 1650 hectare All Terrain Park. MAF has accepted sole responsibility for collecting, transporting and disposal of Psa-affected material to the property.

MAF will supervise collection of the vines and transport them to the site. MAF has assured the councils the incineration will not create any contamination on the land, and MAF will also take care of any clean up required following the operation. It will also provide security at the site and restrict public access under a health and safety plan.

No incineration will take place on December 10 and 11 as the park will be officially opened then in an area well away from the incineration site. MAF will pay all the costs, and reimburse the councils for any costs incurred.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chairman John Cronin said the Council was keen to ensure the outbreak was promptly contained for the benefit of both the environment and the industry which represented a large part of the region’s economic wealth.

“This disease outbreak needs to be resolved as quickly as possible to ensure the viability of this key industry for our region. It is important that local government swing into action behind MAF and the industry to support their efforts and the Regional Council will do all it can to expedite disposal of affected vines,” Chairman Cronin said.

“We also want to assure our communities in this region that we are working with the lead agency to aggressively deal with this situation.”

Tauranga City Council Mayor Stuart Crosby said the city depended on the livelihood of all of the people who worked in the kiwifruit industries.

“We are offering all the support we can to ensure the eradication programme goes well. The City acknowledges the excellent, speedy and professional work being undertaken by all organisations to work together on this potentially devastating disease,” Mayor Crosby said.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Mayor Ross Paterson said the region was facing “new frontiers”.

“This is clearly not a situation we would have anticipated, however all territorial bodies in this region have chosen to pull together to help MAF and the kiwifruit industry get through this Psa outbreak.

“That is what we do in this region – we help each other out and we work together to find solutions - that is what defines us,” Mayor Paterson said.

ENDS

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