Progressive containment case study: Velvetleaf

In April 2024, through the great work of a council contractor and landowner, new confirmed sites of velvetleaf were reported to council staff.

One site was spotted in maize that was being harvested for sale, another site was found in another maize crop prior to harvest, and a third site was on a property where velvetleaf had not been seen for several years.

Dog surveillance was undertaken to confirm the extent of velvetleaf at each site. At this point, we have no clear idea where the new incursions came from as tracing provided no obvious source. This means there are potentially other properties with incursions that are yet to be identified.

It’s vital that contractors, landowners and council staff remain vigilant about velvetleaf.

What is the progressive containment programme?

The progressive containment programme is used to manage pests that are well established but which can be feasibly reduced in geographic distribution and thereby impacts, in all or part of the region.

It is appropriate for the council to manage some of the pests in the progressive containment programme (for example, giant gunnera, alligator weed and climbing spindleberry), rather than rely solely on voluntary action, because:

? successful containment of these species requires co-ordination of action at a regional scale

? the benefits of the control of many of these pests accrue to a wider community than those directly affected by the presence of the pests on their property.

For some pests in the progressive containment programme, control is the occupier’s responsibility to control (for example, control of lantana and chocolate vine). Occupiers may also need to produce biosecurity management plans if planning subdivision or land development activities where pest plants like alligator weed are present.

The council provides advice and information on the identification, impacts and, where appropriate, the control of the progressive containment pest species.

Dive into the full report to learn more about the progress we’ve made towards the goals of the Waikato Regional Pest Management Plan 2022-2032, and our non-regulatory initiatives aligned with the Waikato Biosecurity Strategy 2022-2032.

You can read it here:?Regional Pest Management Plan 2022-2032 (waikatoregion.govt.nz)