Otago Regional Council’s new regional pest management plan and biosecurity strategy support Predator Free Dunedin with a new approach.

The pest plan for 2019-2029 and biosecurity strategy were finalised and signed off just prior to Christmas, and now include three site-led programmes covering the areas (almost exactly) of the Halo Project (West Harbour-Mt Cargill) and the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group, and also include Quarantine and Goat Islands.

As a significant funding partner of PFD ($1.5 million of funds over 5 years), it makes good sense for ORC to back up the work of PFD with regulation, a strategy, and a commitment to protect indigenous ecosystem values in those areas from the impacts of pests.

ORC’s commitment is to take a lead role in supporting the goals of community groups and agencies in site-led areas in relation to the control of possums, rats, mustelids, hedgehogs, Bennett’s wallaby and feral cats, goats, deer and pigs. Support may be in the form of advice, education, funding, service delivery or requiring landowners to undertake control when needed.

You can easily find the rules and requirements relating to each pest in the plan at ORC’s online ‘Pest Hub’. We recommend you take a look (www.orc.govt.nz/pest-hub).