Regional Pest Plans To Be Reviewed

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s biosecurity team is planning an early start to a review of the regional pest management plans.

HBRC’s Environmental and Services Committee last week considered a report on the proposed review.

Although the existing plans would have been reviewed by 2018, recent legislation changes have introduced new requirements to be included, such as considering what the Council’s role in regional leadership of pest management might involve.

A timeframe for the completion of new pest management plans to replace existing strategies is likely to be announced later this year.

“This review will substantially set the scene for eighty per cent of the Regional Council’s biosecurity expenditure - a potential spend of over $20 million - and there are some important new issues that HBRC will need to deal with,” said Cr Rex Graham, Chairman of the Environment and Services Committee.

HBRC Biosecurity staff recommended to the Committee that a Councillor working group be formed ahead of time to consider possible changes in the current biosecurity programme for Hawke’s Bay.

HBRC’s annual expenditure on animal pests is approximately $1.8million and on plant pests approximately $750,000. HBRC also contributes $700,000 a year to the Hawke’s Bay programme of TBFreeNZ.

HBRC biosecurity staff have already been discussing possible regional initiatives with the local horticulture, pip fruit and wine growing sectors ahead of the review.

New issues for consideration in the preparation of plan include the incursion of Argentine ants in Hawke’s Bay over the past 10 years. HBRC’s role in marine biosecurity, a role currently not included in the Hawke’s Bay pest management strategies, will also be considered.

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