Minutes 4 July 2012 - Environment Southland

Regional Services Committee – 4 July 2012
In response to an enquiry by Cr Jones about the non-availability of contractors,
Mr Burgess advised this was an ongoing problem. Over the last 12 months the
Council had trialled the use of private operators by giving them PCA areas and had
paid $1.00 per hectare as a subsidy. Mr Burgess advised that this trial had not
worked as four of the operators had not made any money from it. He advised that
quality contractors were required for the initial control work, and that he would
report to the next Regional Services Committee meeting about this issue.
Resolved:
Moved Cr Horrell, seconded Cr Jones that Council approve the
carrying forward of the current agreement to use pest reserve
funds of up to $30,000 for the Possum Control Areas Programme
through into the 2012/13 financial year.
� Item 3 – Ongoing Matters
3.1 Regional Rabbit Monitoring – Annual Survey Deferred
Carried
This item reported on a decision made not to undertake the annual regional rabbit
monitoring programme this year, partly because delays have been experienced with
the scientific report commissioned to investigate more effective data sampling
methods.
Mr Bowman advised he would report in due course to the Council about the future
of the regional rabbit trend monitoring.
3.2 National Biosecurity Capability Network – Workshop Report
Mr Bowman reported on a two day workshop he attended in Wellington at the
invitation of Asure Quality, aimed at implementing aspects of the National
Biosecurity Capability Network. A copy of the workshop report was appended to
the staff report for Councillors’ information.
3.3 Regional Pest Management Survey Review – Public Meeting
Mr Bowman’s report provided the Council with information from a public meeting
held at Environment Southland on 5 June 2012 about the review of the Regional
Pest Management Strategy.
3.4 Undaria Incursion Response in Breaksea Sound, Fiordland - Update
Mr Riding’s report updated the Councillors on another survey undertaken for the
invasive seaweed Undaria in Sunday Cove, Breaksea Sound during the week of
21 May 2012. Mr Bowman advised that the most recent survey found a total of
nine plants, when only one had been found prior to that. A comprehensive report
will be provided to the Committee in due course.
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