12 August 2015

Regional council faces new pest challenges after busy year

Waikato Regional Council is facing a range of environmental and production pest challenges this year following a busy 12 months controlling unwanted animals and plants.

They include the Mediterranean fanworm threatening Coromandel mussel farms and wallabies spreading from the Bay of Plenty further into the Waikato region.

A report to today’s integrated catchment management committee meeting outlined the highlights of pest management operations costing a total of $6.2 million in 2014-15.

They included:
· 47 hectares of control on alligator weed which can significantly hurt farm production and create environmental problems
· Extensive control of other types of pest plants, including a new eradication programme for lantana
· Excellent results in priority possum control areas thanks to a strong performance by contractors and staff
· Excellent results in the rat and possum pest control carried out under Project Halo, designed to increase the numbers of native birds breeding and living in Hamilton
· A continuation of the award-winning koi carp trap and digester trials involving turning this pest fish into fertiliser.

A further $1.3 million budgeted for last year will be applied this financial year, while the new budget for this year is $7.4 million.

This year’s funding includes an extra $250,000 to tackle Mediterranean fanworm on the Coromandel. This pest can cause production problems on marine farms and damage the natural marine environment.

Developing effective surveillance and control techniques for wallabies is another challenge. The animals are slowly expanding their range from the Bay of Plenty into the Waikato between the Kaimai-Mamaku ranges and the Waikite Valley towards Taupo. Wallabies can damage pasture, crops and native plants.

Other challenges include keeping on top of kauri dieback after it was discovered on the Coromandel and implementing various new rules and policies.

Committee chairman Stuart Husband said pest control work was a core part of the council’s work to support the environment, communities, businesses and farmers.

“We’ve had some good successes in the last year and we want to keep up the momentum we’ve generated,” Cr Husband said.

“Pest animals and plants have the potential to significantly damage our native species and special places, and interfere with our economic well-being, particularly by the threat they pose to farming and cropping, as well as the marine environment.

“For its part, the council is committed to energetically staying on top of pest threats and working closely with partner agencies, iwi and the wider community to achieve our goals.”

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