The Community Initiated Programme for possum control on Banks Peninsula is likely to be extended into the 2010-2011 year. The Banks Peninsula Pest Management Liaison Committee agreed that control work should focus on rural land in the Akaroa Harbour basin and be undertaken on the south eastern bays.
The programme was established to continue possum and ferret control when the Animal Health Board ended its bovine tuberculosis vector control programme. It is co-ordinated by Environment Canterbury and includes rural land from Gebbies Pass Road eastwards, excluding Kaitorete Spit, residential areas and Little River and Akaroa townships.
Possums are controlled to eliminate them as potential carriers of bovine tuberculosis and to protect and enhance habitat for native plants and wildlife. Banks Peninsula has more native bush now than at any time since European settlement and local initiatives such as reducing the possum population have played their part in that recovery.
Banks Peninsula pest liaison committee chair Paul de Latour says that the committee originally mapped out a five year control programme.
“The costs of laying bait and related control work have doubled since the programme was established. The committee’s recommendation to council that the programme be extended for another year to ensure effective control in a smaller area is realistic.”
“Our aim is still to keep the Peninsula free of bovine tuberculosis. Although we may well already have eradicated it, we are still awaiting official confirmation from the Animal Health Board. We have made great progress in reducing the local possum population and we want to capitalise on the gains we have made to minimise future risks,” says Mr de Latour.
Environment Canterbury pest management committee chair Eugenie Sage commended the energy and vision of the pest committee and the continued willingness of Banks Peninsula landholders to fund effective possum control.
For the year 2009/10, the control programme will cost around $147,000 comprising $78,750 from targeted rates on rural landholders, $26,250 from general rates and $42,000 from the Animal Health Board.
The public will be able to comment on the proposed funding for the programme in March and April 2010 as part of public consultation on Environment Canterbury’s draft Annual Plan for 2010/11.
For further information: Councillor Eugenie Sage, Environment Canterbury Pest Management Committee Chair, 03 329 3177.
Paul de Latour, Banks Peninsula Pest Management Liaison Committee Chair, (03) 304 8518.