By ANNE BESTON and BRIAN RUDMAN
West Auckland's dob-in-a-moth campaign could be sabotaged by residents reluctant to be subjected to aerial bombardment by insecticide.
There was talk yesterday of residents refusing to report sightings of painted apple moths in order to avoid being sprayed by Foray 48B, or Btk, but
"community co-operation" were the buzz words at a series of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry briefings.
The briefings to local body representatives and media were a major public relations offensive to sell the last-ditch, $90 million attempt at wiping out the Australian pest.
MAF has come under fire from almost every quarter as the moth continued to elude its $11 million, eight-month helicopter spraying operation, but yesterday the ministry was keen to avoid talk of failure.
The damage-control effort appeared largely to succeed.
"It's no good waging war on MAF," said Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey. "We have to look at this positively and make sure it works."
The 8000ha spray area should be regarded as a "war zone" but community concern about the effects of the spray "had to be addressed whether they are real or perceived".
Auckland Regional Council chairwoman Gwen Bull called MAF's plans positive.
The ministry has a dob-in-a-moth hotline. Painted apple moth project director Ian Gear said it was hoped residents would report sightings.
"We hope the community will see this as a project where they have a responsibility to report any finds."
The target date for lift-off for the Fokker Friendship that will be used to blitz West Auckland suburbs is October 14, weather permitting.
Suburbs included in the new zone include Avondale, New Lynn, Glen Eden, Henderson, Pt Chevalier and Te Atatu.
Although the spraying needs four to five hours of fine weather, the Fokker aircraft might not be restricted to spraying in winds of 12km/h or less, as the helicopter has been.
Mr Gear said it was not yet known at what wind speed the plane would be grounded.
It would fly at roughly the same height as the helicopter - about 45m.
Mr Gear said the campaign had a 60 to 80 per cent chance of success.
Pollen Island's unique batrol moth will survive the Btk spray that will douse the island.
Department of Conservation community relations officer Warwick Murray said the batrol caterpillar would be safely out of harm's way inside the stems of rush plants.
The protection of the moth, found nowhere else in the world, was one reason for creating the Pollen Island Marine Reserve, at the end of the Rosebank Rd Peninsula, in 1995.
MAF's painted apple moth hotline is 0800 969-696.
Further reading:
nzherald.co.nz/environment
By ANNE BESTON and BRIAN RUDMAN
West Auckland's dob-in-a-moth campaign could be sabotaged by residents reluctant to be subjected to aerial bombardment by insecticide.
There was talk yesterday of residents refusing to report sightings of painted apple moths in order to avoid being sprayed by Foray 48B, or Btk, but
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