Pest Control 

Pest Control Strategy

During 2024 the MCA committee, led by Mike McKessar, developed their thinking about the future role of the MCA in pest control in the community.  There has been some excellent pest control work done, and still done in two distinct areas of our community, specifically on and below the road by Peter and Mary Webb and other volunteers and landowners, and in the Mt Cawte area above the road by Vic Koller and other volunteers. 

We have spent time investigating what an effective community pest control programme looked like and spent time with the Picton Dawn Chorus group who have established a very successful pest control programme around their community. They highlighted a couple of key elements that are critical to success - that we need an engaged enthusiastic group of volunteers and we need a good strategic plan.

Our focus for 2025:

1. We build on the work already being done on and below the road with the MCA focusing its resources on assisting the community with 50/50 funding of traps with local residents, up to a maximum total value of $4,000. This money would be available on a first in first served basis for one trap per property. 

2. The committee have allocated a further $2,000 for the 2025 year be spent on a wider pest eradication strategic plan for the Mt Cawte area and will also establish the level of volunteer interest in being involved in a wider pest eradication plan on Mt Cawte. 

We have the potential to enable the native flora and fauna to really flourish on Mt Cawte, for the benefit of the community.

There are funds available from different charities that we can apply for that can assist us with these programmes and we intend to explore those further after a strategic plan is developed.

Trapping Links

Trapping Survey: 

This gathers current trapping practice, gains expressions of interest in subsidised traps and interest in supporting  our trapping programs, along the road and in Mt Cawte.

Trapping Subsidy Agreement:  

This agreement lists the MCA and resident responsibilities, along with further information about the 3 traps for subsidy and outlines the process for it.

Mt Cawte Operational Plan

We have been successful at obtaining a grant from Marlborough Lines Ltd to cover the costs of a Predator Control Operational Plan for the Mt Cawte/Moetapu Road areas.

Lee Cresswell has been engaged to prepare this plan and commenced with a field visit towards the end of May, and has submitted the report to the pest control team during July. This plan is very detailed, providing us a thorough guide for predator control in the Mt Cawte area, ensuring that all our efforts are targeted towards achieving the defined project outcomes.

The plan will be presented to the full committee for the August meeting.

Support

If you would like to financially contribute to pest eradication in our community please contact moetapu.mca@gmail.com