Pest Management in the Bay of Plenty Consultation Document Working with our communities for a better environment E mahi ngatahi e pai ake ai te taiao

Transcription

1 Pest Management in the Bay of Plenty Consultation Document Working with our communities for a better environment E mahi ngatahi e pai ake ai te taiao

2 1 Council and pest management: What does the future hold? Environment Bay of Plenty is committed to working with its community and Biosecurity NZ to meet the challenges of pest management. While we are effectively managing pests on the land and in freshwater, the threat to the Bay of Plenty region is everincreasing as international trade and the movement of products and people grows, and as climate change takes hold. Over the last five years the role of regional councils in pest management has continued to change. The traditional focus of managing pests to especially safeguard agriculture has evolved into managing pests in a wide range of habitats, such as wetlands and bush margins, using a range of methods and partnership arrangements. Wider goals such as protecting biodiversity, public health and community amenity are now established objectives for pest management. Biosecurity NZ has fully entered the picture and is now a key player in the control of new pests. This is particularly important for the Bay of Plenty given we have the Port of Tauranga as a significant gateway into our region. A number of pests are also now well established and while we may reduce their impacts to some extent, they are now part of our landscape. Given the changes that have occurred we need to use our resources wisely to make sure we prioritise and target pest management where we can be the most effective. We need to be clear about what we should target with our limited resources. Currently Council is preparing the next Regional Pest Management Strategy. As part of this work we are proposing subtle but important changes in how we use our roles and when we will impose rules on people. We want to hear the views from people who work on the land and who deal with pests about what these shifts in emphasis may mean for the Bay of Plenty. Your responses will be used to prepare a Proposed Regional Pest Management Strategy for further consultation. Wallaby 2 What is a pest? In simple terms, a pest is usually a plant or animal that adversely affects something we want to achieve or protect, either as individuals (like a pleasant garden), as a business (such as a production forest) or collectively (like a healthy, safe community). Viewed in that broad sense, most pest management is carried out by individuals and businesses acting to protect their health and amenity (for example, domestic control of flies, cockroaches and rodents), assets (for example, household borer control), interests (for example, control of garden pests) or livelihoods (for example, control of agricultural pests). 2

3 3 What then is the Regional Council s role? Council is one of the players involved in pest management. We manage pests, in tandem with other agencies, to: Manage the spill over effects of pests from one property onto another. Protect public good outcomes (such as economic or environmental values) from pests. Broadly speaking, Council s pest management roles can be defined as: Agency (working with Biosecurity NZ to watch for and control nationally important pests). Surveillance (watching for new pests entering the Bay of Plenty). Operational (carrying out on-the-ground pest control). Regulatory (making and enforcing rules about what people must do). Support (helping people with advice and information about pest control). When or if these roles are used is defined by three principles (see shaded box, right) Applying these principles can then show when council will use its different roles. Under principle 1 we will be exercising a range of roles. This will include our agency role working with Biosecurity NZ and our surveillance role. We may also use an operational role to deal with new pest incursions with the view of getting rid of them. It is proposed that this is where we put our priority effort as this can potentially avoid significant costs to the region through the impact of new pests. We will also use our regulatory role to prevent the spread or introduction of new pests. Under principle 2 we may use our regulatory role to require landowners/occupiers to prevent pests spreading from their land. In tandem with this, council may first look to encourage voluntary control. Where it is not practical or cost effective for landowners/occupiers to control a pest we may use our operational role to do this. Council may not have a role if those who benefit from the pest control can organise to collectively deal with the pest themselves. Under principle 3 Council will use its support role to provide advice to people about how to control their pests or may undertake the operational control itself at sites to protect significant public good. Council will also continue to work with care groups and territorial authorities in protecting environmental values. The following diagram shows how Council s roles will work for the control of established pests. Principle 1 As a priority Council will work with other agencies in endeavouring to prevent new pests entering and establishing in the Bay of Plenty. Control should occur as soon as possible with the aim of eliminating the pest. Principle 2 Where a pest is already established in the Bay of Plenty and can be practically and cost effectively controlled across the region or within a defined subregional area then this control should occur. Council will either: (a) Use regulation to require landowners/occupiers to control the pest (b) Support collective responses (such as industry control) or (c) Undertake the control where it is not feasible for landowners/occupiers or collective responses to do so. Principle 3 Where a pest is established in the Bay of Plenty but cannot be practically and cost effectively controlled across the region or within a defined sub-regional area council, organisations and individuals will need to make choices about what they do, if anything. Council will support people by providing advice and may control pests at priority sites where there is significant public good in doing so. Diagram 1 Site-led Control What does control mean for this pest: Desired density (zero population, significantly reduced population, generally reduced population)? Geographic area (regional, subregional area) Pest-led Control NO Is control practical and cost effective? YES NO Is there a threat to priority public values? NO Is control by landowner/ occupier practical? YES Council will provide advice/ support to landowners (Support role) Council may undertake control at key sites (Operational role) YES Is a collective response (by industry or groups of landowners/occupiers) likely? NO Council may undertake pest-led control (Operational role) YES Regulation will be considered (Regulatory role) Council will support development of collective response (Operational role) 3

4 4 What does control mean? The term control when used in relation to pests will mean something different for each pest. How a pest lives, grows and spreads will impact on the costs and benefits of control. Some pests that spread rapidly will need to be eliminated to reduce future risk. Other pests may need to be significantly reduced to a target population level to provide a benefit and some may just be able to be generally reduced in number. When Council is assessing the practicality and cost effectiveness of control it also considers the area that the control might be applied to. A region-wide approach may be justified for some pests where all landowners/occupiers are expected to contribute. For a number of pests it may be more appropriate to define a specific area for which control might be required. These subregional areas might contain a pest that needs to be controlled to limit its spread or impact, or may be areas where pests are not yet fully established. Wherever the area is defined it must be based on a clear and fair rationale. 5 The proposed new categories of pests Previously, land occupiers have been expected to control pests that are seen as being threats to the Bay of Plenty s primary production and environmental values. Environment Bay of Plenty has regulated under its Regional Pest Management Strategy to reinforce this responsibility. Pests have been categorised as: Eradication pests (such as African feather grass and rooks) Total control pests (such as wild kiwifruit) Progressive control pests (such as goats, woolly nightshade, old man s beard Population control pests (such as rabbits) Boundary control pests (such as gorse, blackberry and ragwort) Regional surveillance (such as magpies and Japanese walnut) Council s proposed future approach is to simplify the categories of pests on the basis of how practical and cost effective it is to control a pest and who is best placed to do the pest management. The proposed future approach to pest management in the Bay of Plenty would see the categories of pests in the Regional Pest Management Strategy (RPMS) change to reflect this. The proposed categories of pests are: 1 Agency pests pests that we work with Biosecurity NZ to manage. 2 Exclusion pests - pests that we wish to keep out of the Bay of Plenty or pests that may be here but are not well established and can be eliminated. Council may do the control on our own or with partner agencies such as Biosecurity NZ or the Department of Conservation. 3 Control pests - pests that can be practically and cost effectively controlled either regionally or within defined subregional areas. The responsibility will rest with the landowner/occupier. Where control cannot be practically delivered by the landowner/occupier Council may undertake control and may recover costs. 4 Advisory pests these are pests that are not practical and cost effective to control across the region or within a defined subregional area. Landowners/occupiers have responsibility for these pests. 4 Rook

5 Current list of pest plants within the Regional Pest Management Strategy: Eradication Total Control Progressive Control Boundary Control Regional Surveillance Blue morning glory Cestrum spp Chilean rhubarb Climbing asparagus Darwin s barberry Houttuynia Italian buckthorn Japanese walnut Jasmine Mexican devil Mexican feather grass Mignonette vine Mile-a-minute Mist flower Moth plant African feather grass Alligator weed Kudzu vine Marshwort Nassella tussock Royal fern Senegal tea Spartina Water poppy White-edged nightshade Wild kiwifruit Apple of Sodom Asiatic knotweed Banana passion fruit Boneseed Bushy asparagus Cathedral bells Climbing spindle berry Heather Lantana Lodgepole pine Old man s beard Variegated thistle Wild ginger Woolly nightshade Yellow flag iris Blackberry Gorse Ragwort Pampas Parrots feather Privet Purple loosestrife Purple nutsedge Snow poppy Tree of heaven Wild green goddess lily Current list of animal pests within the Regional Pest Management Strategy Eradication Progressive Control Population Control Regional Surveillance Rooks Wallabies Argentine ants Koi carp Catfish Goats Possums Rabbits (feral) Mustelids Cats (feral) Rats (feral) Eastern rosellas Magpies Wasps Mynahs Provisional future categories of pest The following are the categories of pest that are likely to be included in the next Regional Pest Management Strategy. Agency Pests Exclusion Pests Control Pests Advisory Pests Salvinia Water hyacinth Johnson grass Cape tulip Pyp grass Phragmites Hydrilla White bryony Manchurian wild rice Rainbow lorikeet Pests that are known to be present: Horse nettle Kudzu vine Nassella tussock Noogoora bur Spartina White edged nightshade Rooks Koi carp Pests that are currently not known to be present: Didymo Marshwort Purple loosestrife Senegal tea Water poppy Catfish African feather grass (defined Alligator weed Apple of Sodom Asiatic knotweed Boneseed Climbing spindle berry Coast tea tree Darwin s barberry Italian buckthorn Lantana Lodgepole pine Old man s beard Variegated thistle Wild ginger Wild kiwifruit Woolly nightshade Chilean rhubarb Green goddess lily Royal fern (defined Yellow flag iris Egeria densa (defined lakes) Elodea canadensis (defined lakes) Hornwort (defined lakes) Lagarosiphon (defined lakes) Rudd (defined Tench (defined Wallabies (defined Feral Goats Banana passionfruit Bindweed Blackberry Blue morning glory Bushy asparagus Cathedral bells Cestrum species (four) Climbing asparagus Climbing dock Firethorn Gorse Heather Himalayan balsam Houttuynia Japanese honeysuckle Japanese spindle tree Japanese walnut Jasmine Mexican feather grass Mignonette vine Mile-a-minute Mistflower Moth plant Pampas Parrot s feather Periwinkle Plectranthus Prickly pear cactus Privet Purple nutsedge Ragwort Saltwater paspalum Shield pennywort Smilax Snow poppy Strawberry dogwood Sydney golden wattle Tree of Heaven Taiwan cherry Thistle species other than variegated thistle Wandering Jew Wilding pines (excluding Lodgepole pine) Argentine and Darwin ants Possums Rabbits Mustelids Rodents Feral cats Wasps Magpies 5

6 6 Other features of the next RPMS 6.1 Analysis of costs and benefits Any rule that requires pest control by landowners/occupiers will be rigorously reviewed and tested using an analysis of cost and benefits. Inputs to the analysis will include the level of control that is needed, whether the control should be regional or for a defined sub-regional area, and the management options that are available. This analysis may alter Council s decisions about what actions it takes and the content of the above provisional lists. 6.2 Removal of the boundary control pests category Council is also looking at removing the requirement for boundary control of weeds such as gorse, blackberry and ragwort. The concept of boundary management has very limited use as most pests can easily leapfrog the thin managed strip along a boundary. The pests that are currently listed as boundary control pests are unlikely to meet the practical and cost effective test for when council would consider a rule. 6.3 Spreading or introducing pests The next RPMS will continue to contain rules stopping people spreading and introducing pests. These rules will apply to the new lists within the next RPMS. 7 Working with others on pest management Key facts: Bovine Tuberculosis Vector Management Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) is managed by the Animal Health Board under the National Bovine Tuberculosis Pest Management Strategy (NPMS). The Regional Council was delivering TB vector management for the Bay of Plenty region, under contract to the Animal Health Board, up to 30 June Last year the Animal Health Board decided to take over the delivery of vector management and therefore did not renew its contract with Council. However, Council continues to provide funding support to the current NPMS. The Animal Health Board is currently reviewing their Strategy; once the review is completed council will reassess their role in TB management. 7.2 Marine Biosecurity Council is seeking to clarify the roles and responsibilities of Central Government and other agencies in marine biosecurity. High level discussions are currently being held to explore the most effective ways for New Zealand to be able to protect its marine environment from new pests. These discussions may alter our role in the future. 7.3 The National Pest Plant Accord The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is a cooperative agreement between the Nursery and Garden Industry Association, regional councils and government departments with biosecurity responsibilities. All plants on the NPPA are unwanted organisms under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and cannot be sold, propagated or distributed in New Zealand. Council will continue to undertake surveillance within the Bay of Plenty of the Accord plants for Biosecurity NZ. Council spends $2.1 million on biosecurity each year. Environment Bay of Plenty requires pest control to be undertaken on approximately 4,000 properties every year in the Bay of Plenty. Management plans are developed for all new incursion pests and pests subject to regulation. Plant pest control is estimated to cost New Zealand over $100 million each year. New pest plants become established almost weekly in New Zealand.

7 Questions about the proposed future approach to pest management in the Bay of Plenty: 1 Do you agree that priority should be given to surveillance and undertaking early control to stop new pests establishing in the region? 2 Do you agree with the principles for how Council s roles are defined? 3 Do you agree that land owners/occupiers should only be required to control pests where control is both practical and cost effective? 4 Do you agree that Council should undertake management of control pests under its operational role where it is cost effective to control the pest but not practical for landowners/occupiers to do it effectively themselves? 5 Should the requirement for land occupiers to control certain pests (gorse, blackberry and ragwort) along boundaries be discontinued? 6 Do you agree with the proposed new categories of pests? 7 Are there pests that you think should be added or removed from the provisional lists? If so, why? This form is available electronically at We are interested in your views and ideas about the future of pest management in the Bay of Plenty. Below are some questions that you might like to consider in thinking about this topic. For more information please visit Environment Bay of Plenty s website ( key words Pest Management) or come to one of the public consultation days (dates to be advised). You can also send us an (pest. management@envbop.govt.nz) to get further information, to request documents or to register you interest in attending a public meeting. This stage of the consultation runs through to Friday, 30 October Submissions can be sent to: Environment Bay of Plenty PO Box 364 Whakatane 3158 Faxed to 0800 ENV FAX ( ) to pest.management@ envbop.govt.nz The full version of a technical report Pest Management in the Bay of Plenty Discussion Document - March 2009 is available on request or can be downloaded from our website ( This document is contributing background information and thinking into the process of preparing the next Regional Pest Management Strategy. Wild Kiwifruit 7

8 Submission Number Submission Form Please send your submission to reach us by 4.00 pm on Friday 30 October 2009 TO: The Chief Executive Environment Bay of Plenty PO Box 364 Fax: 0800 ENV FAX ( ) Whakatane Submitter Name: Date: Submission on: Pest management in the Bay of Plenty Note: We have included suggested questions on the previous page that may help you in writing your submission Page No. Section No. and Title Support/Oppose State what changes you would like to see and give reasons for suggested change Contact Details: Telephone: Daytime: After Hours: Fax: Contact person (if applicable): Further copies of this form can be downloaded from Alternatively for an electronic version of the form. 8