Letters to the Editor – Vineyard Gas Guns

Dear Ed: I refer to Paul Sara’s letter to the editor in the May edition. Much of Paul’s letter is not germane and as such is irrelevant and can be ignored. 

He does hit on the crux of the issue in his last paragraph, which I replicate for completeness: 

“I’m sure the guns do annoy him and also sure if they were being used outside best practice rules the SWDC would do something.”

We would be delighted and would have no complaint if “Best Practice” was in fact being adopted. All of the professional and amateur vineyard growers surrounding the Martinborough urban village apply best practice to their bird scaring operations except this one amateur Ferry Road grower. 

This grower daily flouts the best practice protocols for audible bird scaring devices (gas gun & pyrotechnics) – every single protocol!

Janice Smith, CEO, has formally advised us in writing that SWDC has no interest in ensuring the gas gun and pyrotechnic bird scaring device is operated in accordance with the best practice protocols outlined on SWDC official website by this lone wolf – why?

Hilton Doherty