Chilean needle grass on increase

Council’s Biosecurity team is working hard to combat the long-term threat from Chilean needle grass with 2,615 hectares now affected in Marlborough.

Intensive search and destroy operations over the seeding season supported landowners’ year-round efforts, Council’s Senior Biosecurity Officer Liam Falconer told Council’s March Environment and Planning committee meeting.

A priority programme targeted containment of the high threat pest with the aim of early intervention and put pressure on lightly infested properties. “There is a huge amount to lose if we button off - we need to keep going hard on this,” Mr Falconer said.

Ten new Chilean needle grass infestations were discovered this past season including a first detection in an urban setting within Blenheim. The invasive pest was also found on new properties near existing known areas in Ben Morven Road, Taylor Pass and Marfells Beach Road.

The affected land area has increased by 22 hectares from last season.

“Even with an enhanced level of effort by Council there continues to be new infestations discovered and ongoing difficulties preventing low to moderate infestations escalating to becoming more troublesome,” Mr Falconer said.

Chilean needle grass was first recorded in Marlborough in the 1940s in the Blind River area.

While its distribution is somewhat confined, the long-term impacts should it build to high densities across Marlborough would be severe, Mr Falconer said.

Anyone seeing suspected Chilean needle grass is urged to contact Council’s Biosecurity team on ph; 03 5207400 as soon as possible.

A new Chilean needle grass infestation in urban Blenheim