Changes to hydatids control considered

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 30

Changes to hydatids control considered

Changes to hydatids control in the Malvern and Ellesmere counties might be appropriate now to coincide with Government policy changes, the Malvern County Council has been told.

Hydatids control in the two counties has been looked after jointly by the Elles-mere-Malvern Hydatids Authority since 1973. The Malvern County clerk, Mr B. W. Perrin, told a meeting of the council that the joint administration had been very, successful and true hydatids infection in the area was rare.

The Government's Dog Control Bill was pending, and it seemed appropriate to decide if the joint authority should continue as it was, or with modifications. Mr Perrin said the Government's proposal to stop supplying dosing drugs to local authorities could cost Malvern County on extra $30,000 a year, or $6.50 extra a dog. Including other costs, the registration and hydatids fee for 1983-84 would have to rise by about $7 a dog.

Mr Perrin said both counties had always dosed dogs on a strip. On-farm dosing had not been favoured when the joint authority was formed, but it might be time to reconsider this.

Dog owners might accept the increased fee if a dosing service were given on the farm, said Mr Perrin.

Hydatids control officers could watch each property for dog control, and it would reduce the number of owners not turning up at the dosing strip with their animals. If the dosing strip were

retained, dog owners might try to withhold their dogs from registration and dosing because of the higher fees. Mr Perrin said a National Hydatids Council officer felt that on-farm dosing was not as effective as owners could become complacent and not be present to see dogs dosed: Until the new Dog Control Bill became law. no definite decisions could be made, he said. Vandalism A caretaker employed under the Project Employment Programme (P.E.P.) could help solve vandalism at the Glentunnel Domain toilets, the meeting was told. The Domain Board had been forced to lock the toilets because of vandalism, councillors heard. A reply to the P.E.P. application was awaited. ■ Trees Proposals will come before the council at a later meeting on ways to prevent the spread of pine trees in the Lake Lyndon Domain Reserve, which can affect native flora. Councillors met the Lands and Survey Department and the Forest Research Institute last month to discuss the problem. They were told that Corsican and Contorta pines could seed at an early age and if unchecked could spread rapidly through an area. The situation could be contrblled by spending a few days each year removing the seedlings.

The Forest Research Institute has said it will supply native beech trees for planting under existing pine trees, allowing gradual phasing out of the pines. The Lands and Survey Department would help with the work.