Council has been asked this week to investigate the introduction of a cat management policy.

The request was made by members of the Methven Birdsong project, who say that the apex predator of native birds in their town is the domestic cat.

They told us that Methven had about 750 companion, stray and feral cats and if each one killed one bird a week, then about 40,000 birds a year would disappear, meaning the new community project to grow bird song would struggle to gain momentum.

Birdsong project people are already trapping possums, rats and hedgehogs in the town and they say they need Council help to deal with cats.

Any policy Council might make will be first informed by a report from staff, and there are many councils around the country who already have cat management policies so that native birds have a fighting chance.

So what does a responsible cat-owner look like? The birdsong people would like owners to have their cats de-sexed, micro-chipped and registered - de-sexing will reduce the number of unwanted cats that prey on birds and if companion cats are caught in a trap then they can be quickly returned.

I look forward to this discussion around the Council table as cats are much-loved members of many households in the district.

It's important any policy would actually work and that may mean education is key, rather than enforcement.

Council is currently supporting the Rakaia community as it has a cat-fight of its own to keep the 50km/h speed limits on State Highway 1 through the township.

We've conveyed our strong objection to New Zealand Transport Agency and asked that the speed limits remain as they currently are, for the safety and wellbeing of Rakaia residents as well as those who pass through the district.

Rakaia has fought for years to have a lower - and safer - speed limit, particularly for the children who walk or bike to school and need to cross the busy highway. While they are not consulting the community over the speed reversal, you can still give feedback to SIspeedmanagement@nzta.govt.nz.