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