Aerial Operation Suspended At 9.15am Wednesday 15 January

Today’s (Wednesday 15 January) aerial operation to wipe out the painted apple moth was suspended at 9.15 this morning due to rising winds. The operation commenced just after first light, with all three aircraft in the air before 6.00am.

The two fixed-wing aircraft completed the entire 2,500 hectares remaining in the general eradication zone. The helicopter completed 4 of 7 “hotspots” before being grounded by windy conditions.

There are three “hotspot” areas still to be completed: Henderson Creek Islands between the Concource and Rutherford High Parts of Swanson Bus Depot, Henderson Golf range and the bush area between the railway line and the Golf range Huruhuru Creek Estuary

The three remaining “hotspots” will NOT involve spraying DIRECTLY over households but will focus on unoccupied land. They will be completed tomorrow or on the next day that weather permits.

The next target date for a general aerial operation is Tuesday 28 January – weather permitting. Aerial operations for “hotspot” areas will continue on a 7-10 cycle depending on the weather.

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