Regional Pest Plans To Be Reviewed
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s biosecurity team is planning an early start to a review of the regional pest management
plans.
HBRC’s Environmental and Services Committee last week considered a report on the proposed review.
Although the existing plans would have been reviewed by 2018, recent legislation changes have introduced new
requirements to be included, such as considering what the Council’s role in regional leadership of pest management might
involve.
A timeframe for the completion of new pest management plans to replace existing strategies is likely to be announced
later this year.
“This review will substantially set the scene for eighty per cent of the Regional Council’s biosecurity expenditure - a
potential spend of over $20 million - and there are some important new issues that HBRC will need to deal with,” said Cr
Rex Graham, Chairman of the Environment and Services Committee.
HBRC Biosecurity staff recommended to the Committee that a Councillor working group be formed ahead of time to consider
possible changes in the current biosecurity programme for Hawke’s Bay.
HBRC’s annual expenditure on animal pests is approximately $1.8million and on plant pests approximately $750,000. HBRC
also contributes $700,000 a year to the Hawke’s Bay programme of TBFreeNZ.
HBRC biosecurity staff have already been discussing possible regional initiatives with the local horticulture, pip fruit
and wine growing sectors ahead of the review.
New issues for consideration in the preparation of plan include the incursion of Argentine ants in Hawke’s Bay over the
past 10 years. HBRC’s role in marine biosecurity, a role currently not included in the Hawke’s Bay pest management
strategies, will also be considered.
Ends