Waimarino County Council news briefs

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 6, 2 July 1985, Page 18

Waimarino County Council news briefs

A national hydatids council field officer will be carrying out blood tests on Waimarino farm dogs to check for Tainia Ovis worm infestation, beginning next month. The survey will take six weeks to conduct. Waimarino County Councillors were notified of the survey at their recent monthly public meeting, by county hydatids officer Howard Wise. In a report presented to the meeting Mr Wise said a recent National Hydatids Council bulletin had shown that most sheep flocks in the county were infected with Tainia Ovis (sheep measles). Waimarino County Council chairman, Bruce Berry, commented that some local farmers were not taking adequate precautions against sheep measles. Control of the disease depends on denying dogs access to untreated sheep or goat meat. Although sheep measles poses no threat to man, the disease can disfigure lamb carcasses, making them unsuitable for export. By cooking sheep or goat meat it can be rendered safe. It can also be made safe by freezing it at minus 10 degrees C for ten days. Mr Wise said in his report that if farmers were not

observing the correct precautions with sheep and goat meat, it was possible they might also drop their guard when it came to raw sheep offal. Hydatids can be contracted by dogs which eat raw offal. Although it is currently under tight control, hydatids can be deadly to humans. The tests on dogs to be carried out in the Waimarino will discover if farmers have been behaving responsibly, Mr Wise said. Two dogs from each of 120 sheep farms, chosen at random, will be tested. The animals will be dosed and a blood sample taken from the animals a few days later. Mr Berry said the introduction of the scheme into the Waimarino was a reflection of the neglect there had been among farmers when feeding their dogs. "I hope that in the future farmers will be more careful what they feed their dogs and be more conscientious about disposing of carcasses on their farms." ★ ★ ★ The council backed a recommendation from county health inspector, Mike Sigley, that the county take legal action against drainlayers who carried out work on two Rangataua sections. Mr Sigley stated the work had been done without permits. ★ ★ ★ The pinus contorta control group, which coordinates the fight against the noxious weed in areas around Mt Ruapehu, was congratulated on its work by members of the council. The control group brings together representatives of Waimarino, Taupo, Rangi-

tikei and Taumarunui counties, as well as the Rang-itikei-Wanganui Catchment Board, the Forest Service, Lands and Survey, Defence and Justice Departments. The control group met in Raetihi on 17 June. County noxious plants officer, Mr A. J. Martin, gave a favourable report on the meeting to the council at its recent meeting. Cr Malcolm Whale praised local farmers for cooperating with control group staff in their fight against the noxious plant. ★ ★ ★ Waimarino County Council has followed Ohakune Borough's example and voted to grant $2,000 to the Ruapehu region information centre. The money will be used to help pay the salary of a fulltime information officer. At their recent meeting

the council was told by information centre organiser, John Sandford, that the Ohakune-based centre boosted tourism in the region. By boosting the number of visitors coming to the area, the centre increased job opportunities for local young people and offered economic benefit for local businesses, he said. ★ ★ ★ The council is to write to the hydro department of the NZED asking for a financial contribution to the restoration of Strachans Road. Councillors said the road had been damaged by trucks carrying gravel from a nearby pit to the site of a new substation, which is being constructed at Karioi pulp mill. The council will also ask the NZED how much development work it plans to do in the area.