Thursday, December 10, 2015

Submissions open for Pest Management Plan

Horizons Regional Council’s Regional Pest Management Plan has been released for public consultation and the Council wants the community to have their say.

The Regional Pest Management Plan lists the pest plants and animals for the Region and the proposed rules to control and manage them under the Biosecurity Act.

The key changes are: new species, new intent for widespread pest plants, good neighbour rules, new terminology and a joint plant and animal document.

Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon is encouraging people to have their say through the submissions process.

“We’d like to know if the community considers the pests we target to be the best allocation of our resources.

“All the feedback provided will be put to Council and considered when developing the final Plan. So if you have any ideas about how Horizons should manage pest animals or plants now is the time to let us know.”

Horizons biosecurity and habitat protection manager Bill Martyn says Horizons’ role is to canvass the community for ideas and set workable rules for pest management.

“Much of the Plan is based on the old Regional Pest Plant Management Strategy 2007 and Regional Pest Animal Strategy 2009, so a lot of the content is not new,” Mr Martyn says.

“If the community feel we need to change the amount of regulation, resourcing or funding applied to pest management in our Region, I would strongly encourage them to have a read through the Pest Management Plan and share their thoughts with Council through the submission process.”

Copies of the Plan and its summary can be requested from Horizons offices or online at www.horizons.govt.nz with submissions closing Friday 26 February 2016 at 5pm.

For more information around the submission process:
• call toll free 0508 800 800
• visit the Environmental Management section of Horizons’ website www.horizons.govt.nz.
• or email pestplan@horizons.govt.nz.
Horizons staff members will be holding public drop-in sessions at six locations around the Region between 1 February and 12 February 2016.

ENDS.

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