Submissions called for on Proposed Regional Pest Management Strategy

8 November 2006

Auckland Regional Council is calling for submissions on its proposed framework for plant and animal pest management in the region for the next five years.

The Proposed Regional Pest Management Strategy 2007-2012 (Proposed RPMS) is publicly notified today and submissions must be received by Friday 9 February 2007.

Sandra Coney, Chair of the Parks and Heritage Committee says the Proposed RPMS is the final stage of a two-year review and consultation process.

“I encourage people to make a submission on the proposed strategy and let us know their views on pest management in the region.”

Key changes to the existing pest management strategy include:
• Increased emphasis on the protection of the Hauraki Gulf islands (Section 19 of the Proposed RPMS)
• Protection of key pristine freshwater habitats, by inclusion of a number of exotic freshwater fauna as pests (Section 11.3.3)
• Additional measures to prevent the release into the wild of domestic species that could become pests, eg exotic reptiles, deer, goat, pig and sulphur-crested cockatoo (Sections 11.3.4, 11.3.6, 11.3.7, 11.3.8 and 11.3.19)
• The inclusion of additional localised, high-threat plant species to be controlled by the ARC, and additional Surveillance Pest Plant species (Sections 6, 7 and 8)
• A Research Organism strategy to allow for better biosecurity research management and stakeholder consultation (Sections 10 and 13).

The full text of the Proposed RPMS, supporting documentation and submission forms are available from the ARC website at www.arc.govt.nz/rpms

Hard copies are also available free of charge by phoning (09) 366 2000 (press option 1) or by emailing a request to biosecurity@arc.govt.nz.

Copies and supporting documentation are also available for inspection at the following locations:

ARC Information Centre, Ground Floor, 21 Pitt Street, Auckland; 8.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday;

Auckland, Manukau, North Shore and Waitakere City Councils and Franklin, Rodney and Papakura District Councils during normal working hours.

The following council service centres during normal working hours:
• Franklin: Waiuku Service Centre, King St, Waiuku
• Rodney: Warkworth Service Centre, Baxter St, Warkworth
• Rodney: Helensville Service Centre, Commercial Street, Helensville
• Auckland City: Waiheke Service Centre, 10 Belgium Road, Ostend, Waiheke.
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