Council ducks blame

Derwent Valley cleared in bird cull inquiry, but legal action ongoing

THE Derwent Valley Council has been cleared of legislative breaches following an investigation into a controversial bird cull at New Norfolk last year, but action against a contractor engaged by council is pending.

The council yesterday said it had been advised the probe by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment into the poisoning of birdlife at Tynwald Park was finished.

In June last year, 14 geese, two ducks and several plovers were found dead at the park.

Then council general manager Greg Winton stood down while a council-initiated independent investigation was completed. DPIPWE launched a separate investigation, and council said legal advice about that probe meant it couldn’t release the findings of its own investigation.

In a statement yesterday, council said it had been issued with a letter from the department saying neither the council nor its employees were found to have breached relevant legislation.

Council said the letter stated “there was no supporting evidence that employees of the Derwent Valley Council were directly involved in any breaches of the above (Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical (Control of Use) Act 1995, Wildlife Regulations 2010) legislation and, as such, Biosecurity Tasmania would not be proceeding with any charges against any individual employee or the Derwent Valley Council as a corporation”.

But council said it had been advised to ensure permits and authorities were in place when engaging contractors to do work on council’s behalf.

The letter said DPIPWE would not proceed with any charges against the council or individual employees, council said.

But the department confirmed legal action will be pursued against a contractor engaged by council.

A DPIPWE spokeswoman said the department would not comment further because it was a legal matter.

The department said the results of its investigation would not be released.

Derwent Valley Mayor Ben Shaw yesterday said council would address its own independent report at this month’s ordinary council meeting.