26 May 2017

Future pest management in Canterbury – submissions invited

The Environment Canterbury Council has resolved to notify for public submissions a Proposal to progress development of a new Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan.

Councillor Peter Skelton said animals and plants declared as pests can threaten the natural environment and livelihoods.

“We need to make sure the right rules are in place to manage existing pests and new pests,” Professor Skelton said.

“Everyone has a part to play in reducing the impact of pests. They can affect both rural and urban areas. Without good management they can spread. By working together, we can protect Canterbury’s unique natural environment,” he said.

“We all want to protect biodiversity and production activities from the impact of pests, be able to better respond to pests as soon as they get here, and be better equipped to respond to changes in climate and land use, new tourism opportunities, changes in freshwater habitats and water movement.

“The submissions we receive on this Proposal will help us decide how best to get there. This is very important for Canterbury and for New Zealand, so we encourage you to participate.”

Public notification, telling you how you can make a submission, will appear in newspapers and at www.ecan.govt.nz/pests on 3 June 2017. Submissions close on 3 July 2017.

Background

Environment Canterbury has reviewed the Regional Pest Management Strategy under the Biosecurity Act 1993 in accordance with the National Policy Direction for Pest Management released in 2015. Council has now released a Proposal for a Regional Pest Management Plan.

The Proposal sets out the rules for managing pests in Canterbury. It meets criteria set by the Biosecurity Act and the National Policy Direction 2015, and replaces the current Strategy.

In the past we have used considerable resource managing widespread, well-established pests such as broom and gorse, rabbits and wallaby. Feedback we have received so far from communities is that we need a balanced approach allowing us to be more future focused and protect past work as well.

The Proposal therefore addresses new pests that are not in the current strategy, and declassifies a small number of others. It is different from the present approach because it provides just the rules to manage pests, not the wider strategy. Some plants and animal organisms are managed by Environment Canterbury through partnerships and agreements outside the plan.

Environment Canterbury wishes to establish rules for pest spread that apply to everyone - new “Good Neighbour” rules. The Proposal asks Crown partners to manage pest spread across boundaries. Not all rules have a Good Neighbour element.

The Regional Pest Management Plan is one of several tools Environment Canterbury uses to manage pests. We also work alongside individuals and groups in the community. We provide education and guidance, provide some management ourselves and facilitate an on-farm biosecurity programme.

We also work with industry, other councils and central government to respond to national pest threats and develop good practice guidelines.

Some of Canterbury’s worst pests are plants – for example, Chilean needle grass, old man's beard, yellow bristle grass and wilding conifers. Other are animals, including feral rabbits and wallabies. More information – www.ecan.govt.nz/pests

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