Regional Pest Management Plan

After significant changes to the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) in 2012, and the making of a National Policy Direction (NPD) for Pest Management in 2015, Council undertake a major review of the former Regional Pest Management Strategy.

The result is the Regional Pest Management Plan 2018 (RPMP) - operative from 1 October 2018.

The RPMP contains programme for invasive species (or groups of species) that have a specific, achievable objective. These programmes are predominantly for invasive species that are in low incidence or abundance but have a high threat potential, or are threatening to make their way to Marlborough. Other programmes provide regulatory support to protect an immense investment that has, and continuing to be made, by the community.

All invasive species that have are part of a RPMP programme are declared pests with respect to the Biosecurity act 1993. This allows Council to use administrative powers under the Act if required to implement the programmes.

As guided by the NPD, each programme in the RPMP must have a specific objective (s) and programme names(s). These are:

1. Exclusion Programme in which the intermediate outcome for the programme is to prevent the establishment of the subject, or an organism being spread by the subject, that is present in New Zealand but not yet established in an area.
2. Eradication Programme in which the intermediate outcome for the programme is to reduce the infestation level of the subject, or an organism being spread by the subject, to zero levels in an area in the short to medium term.
3. Progressive Containment Programme in which the intermediate outcome for the programme is to contain or reduce the geographic distribution of the subject, or an organism being spread by the subject, to an area over time.
4. Sustained Control Programme in which the intermediate outcome for the programme is to provide for ongoing control of the subject, or an organism being spread by the subject, to reduce its impacts on values and spread to other properties.
5. Site-led Pest Programme in which the intermediate outcome for the programme is that the subject, or an organism being spread by the subject, that is capable of causing damage to a place is excluded or eradicated from that place, or is contained, reduced or controlled within the place to an extent that protects the values of that place.

These programmes may apply to the whole district or part of the district.