Regional Pest Plant Management Strategy - Information for all West Coast Land Occupiers
The strategy identifies pest plants in the region and requires land occupiers to control those plants on their land in accordance with the new rules.
How do I know if I am the “land occupier”?
The following is a lay definition of the term “land occupier.” The legal definition, as per the Biosecurity Act 1993 is set out in the Strategy. A “land occupier:”
· Is the person who lives on the property; and
· Where no-one lives on the property, is the owner of that property; and
· Where no-one lives on the property, but the land is being managed or controlled by some person (for grazing, agriculture, forestry etc), then that person is the occupier
What are the new rules?
There are three different types of rules in the strategy, boundary control, total control and progressive control
Boundary Control: this rule applies to the following pest plants and requires the specified plant to be destroyed within a specified distance of an occupier’s boundary where the neighbour is controlling the same plant. This rule can only be triggered by neighbour complaint, where the neighbour has cleared or effectively cleared, that plant from that boundary.
Pest Plant |
Rule |
|
Broom
Cytisus scoparius
(PDF, 358KB) |
Occupiers must destroy Broom within 10m of their property boundary when the adjoining land is clear of Broom in excess of 50m of that boundary or is effectively clear of Broom |
|
Gorse
Ulex spp
(PDF, 284KB) |
Occupiers must destroy any Gorse plants within 10m of their property boundary when the adjoining land is clear of Gorse in excess of 50m or is effectively clear of Gorse |
|
Ragwort
Senecio jacobaea
(PDF, 208KB) |
Occupiers must destroy any Ragwort plants within 50m of their property boundary, when the adjoining land is clear of Ragwort in excess of 100m of that boundary, or is effectively clear of Ragwort |
|
Giant Buttercup
Ranunculus acris
(PDF, 137KB) |
Occupiers must destroy any Giant Buttercup plants within 10m of their property boundary, when the adjoining land is clear of Giant Buttercup in excess of 50m of that boundary, or is effectively clear of Giant Buttercup |
Total Control: breaches of this rule and reports of infestations of any of the following plants may be made by any person.
Pest Plant |
Rule |
Image |
Nodding Thistle
Carduus nutans |
Occupiers must destroy any Nodding Thistle plants on their land.
Nodding Thistles grows up to 1.6mtall and have a long, fleshy taproot. The flowerheads have a distinct “nod” |
 |
African Feather Grass
Pennisetum macrourum |
Occupiers must destroy any African Feather Grass plants on their land
African Feather Grass has a distinct long, bristly and tightly compacted flower head unlike the feathery flower-heads of native Toetoe |
|
Coltsfoot
Tussilago farfara |
Occupiers must destroy any Coltsfoot plants on their land
Coltsfoot is a perennial, rhizomous, low growing herb which spreads over disturbed stream beds and stream margins to form a dense mat |
 |
Spartina
Spartina spp. |
Occupiers must destroy any Spartina plants on their land
Spartina species are erect, rhizomous estuarine plants which spread rapidly to choke river estuaries |
|
Progressive Control: this rule, relating to another 16 pest plants, applies only to occupiers of Crown land (e.g. DOC) at a number of areas around the region, including the Karamea area, the Coast Road, Cape Foulwind, the Maruia Valley, and all areas south of the Mikonui River. See the Strategy for maps of these areas and lists of the plants to be controlled.
How do I know if I have a pest plant?
Some pest plants such as gorse are well known and easy to recognise but others are less so. If you cannot identify your suspect plant yourself try the following:
· Check out the Regional Council’s website at www.wcrc.govt.nz for an online copy of the Regional Pest Plant Management Strategy
· Check out your local District Library or Community Library copy of the Regional Pest Plant Management Strategy
· Call either of the West Coast’s Weedbusters Co-ordinators who are:
- WCRC Environmental Information Officer, 03 768 0466
- DOC Technical Support Officer, Biosecurity & Weeds, 03 755 8282
To register a breach of the strategy rules call the
West Coast Regional Council on 768 0466 or 0508 800 118