The area covered by the Otago vector control programme to tackle bovine tuberculosis will increase this year to cover an extra 12,000ha.
The extension into an area over the Lammerlaw Range and two blocks in the Nevis Valley would complete the coverage of the vector risk area in Otago, Otago Regional Council representative on the Otago Tb committee Stephen Woodhead said at a full council meeting this week.
It had been made possible by the freeing-up of resources due to the Pest Management Strategy Review and some taking vector control in-house, he said.
The cost of Otago's programme would increase to $6.5 million, and it would include some extra surveys in the 2008-09 year.
That meant an increase in previously indicated local share requested from the Otago Regional Council of $30,000, to a total of $320,000.
Vector control was funded 50% by the Crown, 40% by industry and 10% by local share, raised in each region.
Two aerial operations were undertaken during the winter, one in the Blue Mountains, in South Otago, and another at Mt Stalker, in North Otago.
Both were successful and used deer repellent in pellet bait.
"The deer repellent did not have any impact on possum control, no possums were found caught on the Blue Mountains and two at Mt Stalker in the follow-up monitor."
Landcare Research was studying the Blue Mountains operation to ascertain the fallow deer kill.
As at September 9, there were 18 infected cattle and deer herds in Otago.