Weed management budget increased

Auckland City councillors today voted for a $450,000 budget to control weeds in the city’s parks – a $100,000 increase on last year’s budget.

During the 2004/2005 annual plan funding round, it was proposed that the annual weed control budget for these bush areas be trimmed from $350,000 to $170,000.

Councillors hearing submissions on the council’s draft 2004/2005 annual plan were unanimous in their decision at Combined Committees today to reinstate the weed control budget for natural and bush areas.

Auckland City is currently in year three of a five-year programme aimed at reducing noxious weeds in the bush areas of 24 of its high profile parks. The aim of the programme is to reduce weeds to a level where they can be controlled at minimal cost.

The chairperson of Auckland City’s Recreation and Events Committee, Councillor Scott Milne, says it would be imprudent to ease up on the council’s war on weeds.

“The $100,000 increase to last year’s budget recognises the challenge we face in maintaining our superb parks and street berms. We are particularly concerned about invasions of privet, ginger and other noxious weeds being spread by our increasing bird life. We will also be working on educating residents on the needs and methods of controlling weeds on their own properties, particularly those that border parks,” he says.

During the annual plan process, 95 submissions were received in support of the weed management budget being maintained. The invasive and undesirable weeds that have been identified by Auckland City for control and eradication are privet, tobacco weed, gorse, asparagus, vine, ginger, wandering jew and madiera vine.

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