In less than a week the number of “hazardous” addresses still to be cleared has been reduced from 28 to 12 as government inspectors have destroyed banana plants on more of the properties where people failed to meet the campaign’s April 30 deadline.
Hazardous addresses are those in which property owners have expressed strong opposition to the campaign or threatened members of the eradication team.
Campaign co-ordinator Kevin Cooper said all clearances on “hazardous” properties had so far occurred following negotiations with residents.
“We’ve got the number down to 12 without even having to exercise our powers to access the property,” he said.
This is despite last week’s threat from Primary Industry and Fisheries Minister Willem Westra van Holthe who warned that, if necessary, police would be used to help plant health inspectors clear properties.
But inspectors this week appear to have made at least one forced entry.
