N Izett

It is more than a year since my last letter on this subject and still nothing appears to have been done to combat this terrible scourge, apart from me hearing chainsaws cutting the wilding pines above Valley Road on January 3, last year.

They were concerned volunteers, and they followed my suggestions in that letter or may have been Horizon Energy employees. Whichever, it was wonderful to see, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation for their efforts.

But, yet again, we are presented with horrific scenes of a choking carpet of Chinese privet, imported to New Zealand in 1950, which has exploded. It is in flower and very prominent above town right now and spreading tens of thousands of seeds yet again.

There is a notable increase, visible now from Alexander Avenue south to beyond Arawa Road, where they are in the process of easily overcoming a carpet of kanuka which has been there for years. All plainly visible.

And if nothing is urgently done, this area and beyond will soon be looking like the centre of town. A really frightening prospect indeed. This same encroachment is expanding in the other direction at the Heads as well.

I find it absolutely amazing that our councils and the Department of Conservation don’t appear to be showing any concern at all about this terrible menace to our environment.

And I am noticing also there are plants on residential properties around town, likely admired for their colour, but unaware of their terrible menace to our natural environment.

I’m too old now to help, unfortunately, but it would be really great if our local businesses could also help possibly to set up a group of concerned volunteers to start an extermination programme, beginning from the south of the current infestation on Valley Road and progressing to the north and Mokorua Gorge to the thickest of the infestation, where possibly the battle can be continued with the assistance of a commercial drone(s), this requiring quite some serious effort and finance. Further north at present, one has to look hard now to see any native trees that once completely covered the entire escarpment.

Not only are they here, but they are widespread across the Bay of Plenty and are long overdue to be classed as a noxious plant.

What a terrible disaster it was when these plants (and so many others) were introduced to our country. They are seriously ruining our native environment.

From my home I have a magnificent view of part of the escarpment, but it is covered with wilding pines, blue gums, another shocker, pampas, ginger plants and now the exploding Chinese privet. Really frightening prospects for our future generations unless a concerted effort is launched right now to rid them once and for all.

* Paul Camburn, Team Leader Open Spaces Operations, Whakatāne District Council responds:

The work undertaken last year involved contractors engaged by the council to remove pest plants at the council-owned 93 Valley Road. This included the removal of wilding pines, woolly nightshade, Taiwanese cherry, wild ginger, and other invasive species. Additionally, the council has carried out similar efforts along Valley Road, from Gorge Road corner, targeting Taiwanese cherry, wild ginger, and woolly nightshade.

It’s important to note that much of the escarpment along Commerce Street is privately owned and not under council jurisdiction. While the council continues its work on public land, the responsibility for managing pest plants on private land lies with landowners and occupiers.

Privet is not a targeted species in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Pest Management Plan 2020-2030, which means the council focuses its efforts on species listed in this plan.

While drone spraying may seem like an appealing solution, removing the privet tree canopy enhances the likelihood of other pest plants re-establishing in the area, potentially worsening the problem. A more strategic and long-term approach is required to ensure effective and cost-efficient management.

The council knows the importance of community involvement and welcomes initiatives from local businesses and residents to help address pest plant infestations.

Volunteers and private landowners play a crucial role in supplementing the council’s efforts to protect our environment.