January 26, 2001
The Environmental Risk Management Authority is calling for submissions on a proposal to import and release into the environment, three small flies designed to control the spread of Hieracium spp or hawkweeds in the New Zealand hill and high country pastoral areas and also some conservation land.
The application has been lodged by the Hieracium Control Trust that claims that various species of Hieracium, which is a weed, have the potential to displace a million stock units worth $76m because of reduced pasture production. This does not include large areas of native grasses in conservation areas which are threatened by Hieracium. The Trust wants to import and release three tiny flies - Macrolabis pilosellae, Cheilosia urbana and Cheilosia psilopthalma which have been identified by Landcare Research and CABI Bioscience as being part of a suite of biological control agents that are likely to have the most impact on Hieracium. According to the applicant all three insects feed only on Hieracium.
The application from the Hieracium Control Trust was publicly notified on 20 January 2001. The closing date for submissions is Monday 5 March 2001 and if a hearing is requested this is likely to take place in mid April.
For the first time ERMA New Zealand has set up an on-line submission form which can be accessed on our web site www.ermanz.govt.nz/Consultation. Alternatively submissions can be posted or delivered to ERMA New Zealand in Wellington. It is hoped that the on-line submission form will make it easier for members of the public to participate in the process.
A summary of the application can be viewed on our web site and a copy is also available at our offices in Wellington.
For further updates go to our focus page on Hieracium Control Trust biocontrol agent release.
For further information contact:
Kevin Currie,
Operations Manager,
ERMA New Zealand.
Tel: +64 4 473 4826