Pest control boost for Pukemokemoke
Pukemokemoke Reserve will be getting pest control, courtesy of Perry Resources Ltd. The company has volunteered to undertake pest control in its application for a resource consent to operate the nearby quarry.
The reserve is part of the Hamilton Halo project.
“This is an excellent outcome for ratepayers and the Hamilton Halo project generally,” said regional council biodiversity officer Therese Balvert.
“A collaborative effort involving councils, community groups, industry and others will help ensure the best biodiversity outcomes possible for our region.”
The Halo project, which aims to increase the number of tui and other native birds visiting and living in and around Hamilton, has also received a boost.
Hamilton City Council, Landcare Research and Waikato Regional Council are teaming up to support it. Under a new memorandum of understanding, Hamilton City has committed to an initial three years control of rats and possums at 20 sites, such as parks and gullies, from this financial year.
“Over the past six years, our Hamilton Halo project has had great success in increasing the number of tui visiting the city during spring by controlling rats and possums at eight breeding sites just outside Hamilton,” said regional council chairperson and Hamilton councillor Paula Southgate.
In the early years of Halo, less than 40 tui sightings were reported in Hamilton. Last financial year alone there were nearly 1600 and surveys indicate increasing numbers of native birds generally at the Halo breeding sites.
“Now we’re keen to encourage the tui to live and breed in Hamilton full time and promote an increase in the native bird population generally. Having Hamilton City Council carry out this new pest control at 20 sites within the city will significantly boost our chances of doing just that… ” she said.
Under the agreement, the regional council and Landcare Research will provide technical advice and support to the new Hamilton pest control operations at the 20 sites, as well as continue with their involvement in control at the sites outside Hamilton.
Landcare Research’s John Innes said that working with enthusiastic partners such as the two councils was by far the most effective way to get research results to make “a real difference in the real world”.
“The success of Halo in increasing tui around the Waikato has been a great start, and we are keen to see the same increases with bellbirds, kereru and kaka,” he said.
Good on you Perry’s. Wish all quarry operators would take a long term view in what they do to the landscape. No excuse to leave a battered site when they have no further use for it. Can we take from the article that Perry’s are applying for a new consent?
Leo Koppens