It was a solution that didn’t make everyone happy but begins to address an issue that has exploded 12-fold in Ontario over the last year.
Quinte West council approved a motion to support a privately run gypsy moth aerial spray program, which would provide rural residents with severe defoliation in Quinte West with the option of a privately coordinated aerial spraying program.
The approximate costs are:
● Rural lot under 25 acres with a house: $368 for the first rural acre and approximately $99/acre for each additional acre
● Bush lot over 25 acres with a house: approximately $107.35/acre
Director of Public Works Chris Angelo stated on Monday night during the regular meeting of Quinte West council there are approximately 8,400 hectares of private property and 100 hectares of public/city owned property affected by gypsy moths.
Council also directed staff to include $75,000 in the 2022 operating budget for the aerial spraying of city-owned property within the severe defoliation area.
Angelo said timing is of the essence as the spraying would be conducted in late spring/early summer.
Mayor Jim Harrison stated he felt higher levels of government should step up.
He said there are many residents like himself who have pastures with many ash trees which have succombed to the Emerald Ash Borer and nothing was done about those.
Councillor Karen Sharpe felt it was important kits also be provided to residents to allow them to try to mitigate some of the damge done by the moths on their own property. Kits would include items like burlap sacks, Bacillus thuringiensis (Btk)and information.
Council will also engage BioForest in 2022 to reevaluate the gypsy moth infestation to determine the “actual” levels of defoliation and determine population trends and undertake a comprehensive and proactive communication campaign in regards to providing residents information for managing gypsy moths on their private property.
