20 March 2002

With fine weather and light winds forecast, targeted aerial spraying against the painted apple moth will start at first light this morning.

A seaward strip in the suburbs of Te Atatu South and Glendene, and Traherne Island alongside the north-western motorway were sprayed last Saturday.

The plan for this morning is to finish the same residential block which includes a second spray of two gully areas which are heavily infested with caterpillars, then move to the Waikumete Cemetery. The Avondale Peninsula will be next on the list if time permits before the winds get up.

MAF had hoped to spray most of the areas with schools in them on weekends but the weather has made this impossible. MAF also wants to make sure there's a minimum time gap between starting and completing areas within the target zone so that residents are not inconvenienced more than necessary.

It's likely that the other residential suburbs (the lower half of Glendene and Kelston) will be sprayed on the next suitable morning.

This is third operation of targeted aerial spraying against the painted apple moth.

The aerial spraying target zone includes about 3,000 west Auckland residential and industrial properties along the Whau River and its tributaries and the Avondale Peninsula. The Waikumete Cemetery and Traherne Island, which runs alongside the northwestern motorway, is also in the target zone.

Ends

© Scoop Media