Regional Pest Management Strategy Review

In accordance with Section 78 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, the Marlborough District Council gives notice that a Proposed Regional Pest Management Strategy for Marlborough (Proposed Strategy) has been prepared and is now available for public submission. The current Regional Pest Management Strategy for Marlborough 2007 expires on 2 July 2012, and by publication of this notice the current Strategy will continue to have effect until the Proposed Strategy is adopted by the Council. The Biosecurity Act 1993 is being substantially amended through a bill currently before Parliament. That Bill revises the process that the Council must use when developing and adopting a Pest Management Strategy. Once the Bill has been enacted, expected to be this year, the Council proposes to undertake an extensive review of the Strategy. In the meantime, in order to ensure that the current Strategy does not expire, the Council proposes that the current Strategy with only minor amendments be adopted.

Proposed Strategy

The Marlborough District Council has prepared a Proposed Strategy that is substantially based on the current Regional Pest Management Strategy with some minor changes.

The minor changes include:

• Updating the expiry date and Table 9: Indicative Costs and Sources of Fund.
• Replacing all references to Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to the Ministry for Primary Industries or MPI. Making a deletion under 2.1.1 and amending the National Pest Plant Accord paragraph.
• Correcting the scientific name for Eel Grass, changing ‘Rooks’ to ‘Rook’ and correcting a rule for Contorta Pine.
• Amending a rule for African Feather Grass and a bullet point under the Means of Achievement for Chilean Needlegrass.
• Extending the performance measure completion dates from 2012 to 2017.

The Proposed Strategy and the current Strategy may be inspected without fee at any of the following locations at any time that these places are open to the public:

• The Council’s Office, Seymour Street, Blenheim
• The Marlborough Library, Arthur Street, Blenheim
• The Council’s Picton Office and the Picton Library, High Street, Picton
• The Havelock, Seddon, Ward and Rai Valley Community Libraries
• Elma Turner Library, Halifax Street, Nelson
• The Wellington Public Library, Victoria Street, Wellington
• The Kaikoura Public Library, Kaikoura
• The Christchurch Public Library, Gloucester Street, Christchurch

The Proposed Strategy is also available in our Biosecurity section on the Regional Pest Management Strategy Review page.

Any person may make a submission in writing to the Council on the Proposed Regional Pest Management Strategy for Marlborough 2012. Your submission should state those aspects of the Proposed Strategy that you support and oppose and identify the reasons for your support and opposition and any specific alternatives to the Proposed Strategy that you recommend.

You should also indicate whether you wish to be heard at the hearing. A submission form is available on this website and at the places listed above.

 Submission Form

The closing date for making submissions is 4.00 pm on Tuesday 31 July 2012. Submissions on the Proposed Strategy can be lodged:

Once the closing date for lodging submissions has passed, all submissions received will be summarised, publicly notified and made available for public inspection. The Council will then hold hearings to consider submissions that have been lodged and issue decisions on the matters raised. Anyone who has made a submission and who has indicated that they wish to be heard will have the right to attend the hearing and to present their submission (either personally or through a representative) and call evidence.

For further information contact Dave Grueber phone 03 520 7400.

Dated at Blenheim this 28th day of June 2012.