Pests strain budget

A new infestation of pest plants in Torbay has highlighted a heavy reliance on local volunteer groups for pest control, as Auckland Council struggles for funding.

‘‘Pest plants are strangling our natives but Auckland Council refuses to do anything about it,’’ said Torbay resident Caressa Goldschagg.

Goldschagg reported an overgrowth of pest plant ‘‘blue morning glory’’ behind her home in Glenvar Road to Auckland Council, February 20.

She said the council’s biosecurity team informed her that, if she wanted the plants gone, she must approach local volunteer groups.

‘‘I physically can’t help out with the volunteer groups,’’ Goldschagg said. ’’Why do we have to rely on volunteers to clean it out when it is a pest plant?’’

Blue morning glory is a pest plant registered on Auckland Council website, impacting the environment by smothering native vegetation.

Auckland Council biosecurity team manager Phil Brown said the council recently became aware of the blue morning glory in Goldschagg’s area. Volunteer groups have offered to help but we have to confirm what that will be, Brown said.

‘‘We don’t want pest plants anywhere, but it is challenging to fund [removing] them,’’ he said. ’’Our ecological contracts are targeting bad weeds in places where they will have the most impact on our native species.’’

Forest & Bird North Shore branch chairman Richard Hursthouse said the Pest Free Kaipatiki strategy was developed because of this limited funding.

‘‘It will coordinate and inform the community about pest plant issues and control,’’ Hursthouse said.

Pest control information on Auckland Council website.

WEEDBUSTERS NZ Blue morning glory is strangling native plants in Torbay and stretching Auckland Council’s budget.