Otago Regional Council (ORC) estimates 25,000ha of Otago will
exceed its new regulations for the control of rabbits, mostly
in Central Otago.
ORC confirms rabbit numbers are at the highest level since
the illegal introduction of the Rabbit Haemorrhage Disease
(RHD) into New Zealand in 1997. Most exceedences in the
region are on the rabbit-prone lands of Central Otago, up
from 9200ha last year to 10,660ha this year.
The new Regional Pest Management Strategy (RPMS) will be
operational within the next two weeks. Landowners must comply
with the new Maximum Allowable Level (MAL) of three (on the
modified McLean Scale of 0-8 measuring rabbit and/ or hare
activity) by October 2012.
McLean scale MAL three determines ‘‘sign is infrequent with
some faecal pellet heaps more than 10m apart and odd rabbits
may be seen''.
ORC director of resource management Selva Selvarajah said a
second paper regarding compliance was expected to be released
at the next council meeting on May 6.
‘‘The second paper is going to basically outline the
procedures and process that we will be taking to achieve that
2012 target,'' Dr Selvarajah said.
‘‘We will be door-knocking on every property that's got
rabbit problems and providing a written letter to the
property owners stating that they are not complying with the
MAL-required number and therefore they need to take some
control programme to meet our particular management strategy
by 2012.''
As in previous years, the largest area in breach within
Central Otago lies in the Upper Clutha area, with the Tarras,
Luggate and Lowburn areas accounting for most of the land
involved.
Land alongside the Kyeburn River and to the east of Waipiata
accounts for the Maniototo land that is in breach.
‘‘Anybody exceeding that MAL three will have to submit a
programme to the council,'' Dr Selvarajah said.
Once farmers had been informed by letter they would have two
months to submit a control programme to ORC.
‘‘The farmers use that programme to undertake rabbit control
over the next two to three years.''
Most people would meet that requirement, he said. ‘‘If the
programme is not submitted within the two months then the
council will put together a programme and serve it on the
farmer as a notice of direction under the Biosecurity Act.''
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