MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, January 29, 2016

Pest Management Plan on the road

Six community drop-in sessions will be held between 1 February and 10 February 2016 around the Region as part of the Horizons Regional Council’s Pest Management Plan review.

The Regional Pest Management Plan lists the pest plants and animals identified for the Region and the proposed rules to control and manage them under the Biosecurity Act. Recent changes to the Act require all councils to review their plans and consult with their communities on the review.

Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon says the sessions will be informal chats producing clarification of the Plan and guidance on making submissions.

“These informal sessions will give the community a chance to clarify any issues they may have with the Plan before submitting and will be focused on improving understanding of the Plan, its aims and the changes that have been made.”

Key changes include: inclusion of new species, new intent for widespread pest plants, good neighbour rules, new terminology and a joint plant and animal document.

Horizons biosecurity and habitat protection manager Bill Martyn encourages anyone who is thinking about submitting to attend.

“If the community think that they would like to make a submission we will have the forms with us, and will be able to assist with the application process if needed,”

“By having discussions with potential submitters around the Plan we can help them make more informed submissions and clear up any questions they may have,” says Martyn.

Dates and locations of meetings are as follows:
· Wanganui - 1 February at 10:00 am, Wanganui War Memorial Centre, Pioneer Room, Watt Street (Queens Park).

· Taihape - 2 February at 10:00 am, Council Chambers in the Taihape Town Hall.

· Taumarunui - 2 February at 3:00 pm, RSA, 10 Marae Street.

· Dannevirke - 9 February at 10:00 am, Tararua Business Network Training Room, 40 Denmark Street.

· Levin - 10 February at 10:00 am, Te Takere - Rimu Room, 10 Bath Street.

· Palmerston North - 10 February at 3:00 pm, Caccia Birch - Nanstead Room, 130 Te Awe Awe Street.

Copies of the Plan and its summary can be requested from Horizons offices or online at www.horizons.govt.nz with submissions closing Friday 26 February 2016 at 5pm.

For more information around the submission process:
· call toll free 0508 800 800.

· visit the environmental management section of Horizons’ website www.horizons.govt.nz.

· or email pestplan@horizons.govt.nz.

ENDS.

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