Environment Waikato has possum control operations underway, beginning in June 2007. This page provides details about current operations due to begin in the Pirongia - Hauturu area.
On this page:
Background
Environment Waikato, in partnership with Department of Conservation and land owners, will begin possum control over 74,000 hectares of land around Mt Pirongia and the Hauturu area in mid June 2007.
The aim is to reduce possum densities to very low levels across the whole area to achieve the following objectives.
- Protect biodiversity values on and around Mt Pirongia and native bush on private property.
- Enhance agricultural production by reducing the risk of bovine Tb establishing in wild possum populations.
- Improve the stability of steep upper catchments in the Aotea and Kawhia Harbour areas.
We have received a lot of interest and support for this operation. It is very much a collaborative effort involving the Department of Conservation, Waipa District Council, Waikato District Health Board, iwi, community groups and the 700 land owners living within the control area.
A wide range of possum control methods will be used during this operation. Aerial 1080 will be used over the rugged, mostly inaccessible steep country. Ground based control using a range of other toxins will be used in the easier more accessible land and trapping and shooting could be used around sensitive areas. Contractors will begin work on the ground in mid June 2007. Control will occur in different places at different times on and around Mt Pirongia, continuing until at least October 2008.
What's happened so far
- Possum monitoring was carried out in November 2006 around much of the project area. As anticipated there were very high possum densities recorded across most of the areas monitored.
- Consultation with various stakeholders has been ongoing over several months, and two project newsletters have been sent to land owners in the area.
- In early 2007 we requested and received tenders for the control work from a wide range of contractors.
- Tenders have been assessed and contracts awarded to the successful bidders.
- Read our media release about the recent, highly successful, possum control operation on Mt Pirongia.
Consultation procedures
Our contractors are in personal contact with many people in the lead up to the beginning of the control operation. The contractors will pre-advise commencement times and keep land owners informed on progress and expected completion dates.
Please note that if you have a small property with no significant bush you are unlikely to be personally contacted, unless control work is happening on neighbouring properties.
There are strict regulations in place governing public notification of pesticide operations. Precautions are taken to ensure safety and that people entering the operational areas are able to identify and avoid contact with poison baits. Precautions taken include:
- public notices in newspapers
- prominent warning signs at all recognised points of access to Mt Pirongia
- notifying adjoining land owners and commercial and recreational users about operations
- provision of information to local schools, vets and medical providers.
Timing and locations
Click on each area of the map below to view the timing of the operation in that area, the methods that will be used and which contractor will be working in the area.
Mt Pirongia (14,500 ha)
| Contractors |
Methods proposed |
Timing |
EcoFX Ltd
Beck Helicopters |
Aerial 1080. |
Mid to late June 2007 |
Mt Pirongia buffer (14,660 ha)
| Contractors |
Methods proposed |
Timing |
Farm and Forest Pest Services Ltd
EcoFX Ltd |
Brodifacoum and encapsulated cyanide in bait stations. Some aerial 1080. |
June to November 2007 |
Oparau (11,225 ha)
| Contractors |
Methods proposed |
Timing |
| Eco FX Ltd |
Brodifacoum, encapsulated cyanide in bait stations and shooting. Some aerial 1080. |
June to November 2007 |
Ngutunui (6,405 ha)
| Contractors |
Methods proposed |
Timing |
| EcoFX Ltd |
Brodifacoum, encapsulated cyanide in bait stations and shooting. Some aerial 1080. |
October 2007 to March 2008 |
Waipa/Puniu Stage II (11,534 ha)
| Contractors |
Methods proposed |
Timing |
| EcoFX Ltd |
Brodifacoum and encapsulated cyanide in existing bait stations. |
May to September 2008 |
Hauturu/Awaroa farmland (8,775 ha)
| Contractors |
Methods proposed |
Timing |
| EcoFX Ltd |
Brodifacoum and encapsulated cyanide in existing bait stations. Some aerial 1080 along bush margins. |
April to June 2008* |
| * This essentially ground control operation may be deferred until July to November 2008 to allow for scheduled aerial treatment of 6500 hectares of Crown and private bush within this sector. |
Honikiwi (6,870 ha)
The contractors
Environment Waikato uses contractors to undertake the possum control. Strict performance conditions are placed on the contractors. If they don’t achieve the required results they are not paid. Approximately one third of the total cost of this operation will be borne by Department of Conservation. The remaining two thirds will be paid from regional rates spread across Environment Waikato’s entire area.
EcoFX Ltd is an Otorohanga based company. Many of their staff live in or have extensive knowledge of the area. They have established relationships with many land owners in the project area already. EcoFX Ltd have excellent communication and consultation processes and will be as flexible as possible regarding toxin use, stock rotations and access during lambing/calving.
EcoFX Ltd have teamed up with Peter Nichol of Farm and Forest Pest Services Ltd, a Tuakau based contractor who has worked closely with Environment Waikato and Auckland Regional Council over the last 10 years. Peter employs some local land owners and will work with EcoFX on the Mt Pirongia buffer sector to ensure all bush areas in private land are treated after aerial control work has been completed.
Taranaki based Beck Helicopters will be undertaking all aerial control in the operation as sub-contractors to EcoFX Ltd. The company has extensive baiting experience, including past operations on Mt Pirongia, having treated some 60,000 hectares over six operations since December 2005 in the Waikato region.
Contacts
For more information about the project please contact one of the following.
Environment Waikato
Peter Russell or Dave Hodges 0800 800 401
Email peter.russell@ew.govt.nz or david.hodges@ew.govt.nz
Department of Conservation - Waikato Area Office
Dion Patterson (07) 850 9364
EcoFX Ltd
Mike Reynolds 027 248 7718
Kevin Pearse 027 221 9379
Farm and Forest Pest Services Ltd
Peter Nichol (09) 233 4311