Bay Harbour: January 15, 2020

PAGE 4 BAY HARBOUR
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Wednesday January 15 2020
News
Bid to eradicate possums
RESIDENTS CAN have their
say over plans to ramp up the
eradication of possums in Banks
Peninsula.
A new control programme by
Pest Free Banks Peninsula aims
to protect native wildlife and
vegetation across a 115,000ha
area.
Spokesperson Dr David Miller
said it is part of a 30-year initiative
to protect biodiversity and
support sustainable agriculture
and tourism.
“Possums are causing havoc
to our native vegetation and
wildlife, so we’re looking to start
a new programme with the aim
of eradicating possums from
south-eastern Banks Peninsula
over the next five years. From
there we will progressively work
outwards across the peninsula.
“This is an ambitious project
and we will need the support
and involvement landowners
and residents to achieve the
long-term vision.”
The new programme replaces
the previous possum control
programme run by Environment
Canterbury.
“We understand some landowners
would like to see possums
controlled over the entire
peninsula. It is, however, widely
accepted that the previous possum
programme was no longer
CONTROL: Pest Free
Peninsula plans to trial new
methods of eradicating
possums across Banks
Peninsula over the next six
months to figure out the most
effective and affordable way
of keeping numbers down.
achieving its desired impact.
We need to look at new ways of
doing things.
“Over the next six months
we will trial new methods of
controlling possums to see if
we can provide effective and affordable
suppression beyond the
eradication area to keep possum
numbers down,” said Dr Miller.
Residents can learn more
about the proposed programme
and meet project representatives
during Banks Peninsula’s Conservation
Trust’s display at Little
River Show on Saturday.
Public meetings will also be
held at the Akaroa Sport Pavilion
on January 24, and at the
Little River Rugby Club Rooms
on the January 29. Both meetings
start at 6pm.
Pest Free Banks Peninsula
is a partnership of 14 parties,
including central and local
Government, five Ngāi Tahu
Rūnanga, and commercial and
not for profit organisations.
The new possum control
programme complements other
initiatives that are also under
way.
This includes a programme
to eradicate feral goats from the
Peninsula within five years and
urban trapping programmes in
many areas, including the Port
Hills.
The new possum programme
will be integrated with a
Department of Conservation
and Orion initiative launched
late last year which focuses on
controlling possums on public
conservation land within the
Peninsula.
•Groups, businesses or
individuals wanting to
get involved can find
further information on
the Pest Free Banks
Peninsula website www.
pestfreebanksPeninsula.org.
nz/
CHEAP
OPTION:
The
Midnight
Express
would run
from the
central city
to Sumner
at 1.15am,
2.15am and
3.15am on
Sundays for
up to $10. ​
Midnight bus to Sumner
•From page 1
“There is potentially the need
for a cheaper service. If people are
travelling in a group, it’s easier
than having to get two taxis as
the cost would double. It’s also
not something you have to book,
it’s a scheduled service.”
Bentley Transport has two
other Midnight Express lines
running from the
central city to Rolleston
and Rangiora which
Mr van der Merwe said
have seen a “really good
response.”
He said the decision
to run the bus out to
Sumner was based
on the population of
the area and because
a similar service was
provided to the area prior to the
earthquakes.
Sumner resident Jess Wright,
Jess Wright
•HAVE YOUR SAY: Would you
use the Midnight Express?
Email your views to jess.
gibson@starmedia.kiwi
21, said she would definitely use
the bus if it became an option.
Miss Wright would usually pay
between $40 and $50 for
an Uber or up to $80 for
a taxi to get home after a
Saturday night out.
“I think the bus is such a
good idea,” she said.
Sumner Community
Residents’ Association
co-ordinator Charlie
Hudson said she loves
the idea of having another
form of connectivity with
the city.
“At this point, no concerns
spring to mind.”
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