Friday, 9 April 2021, 2:27 pm
Marlborough District Council is planning to release the
rabbit haemorrhagic virus strain RHDV1 K5 in early May along
sections of the Taylor River Reserve and at neighbouring
vineyard properties. The area includes the floodway reserve
between Purkiss Street and south to opposite Turnbull
Drive.
Rabbits are causing extensive damage to the
stop banks along parts of the Taylor River and to amenity
plantings and adjacent vines. Stop banks are essential for
maintaining Blenheim’s flood protection defences. The area
has high numbers of wild rabbits and conventional control
methods such as shooting are challenging to undertake in