Dog owners protest 1080 drop

PROTESTERS of the two and fourlegged kind gathered at the Dunedin City Council yesterday, before a 1080 drop that will cover more than 8000ha of Dunedin land.

Ospri will drop the poison over an 8600ha block in the Silver Peaks area, including the Silver Stream catchment, tomorrow.

Ospri southern South Island programme manager Brent Rohloff said the drop was one of 12 aerial drops of 1080 in the South Island this year aimed at eradicating bovine tuberculosis.

Anti1080 protester Michelle Hager, of Dunedin, took her 4monthold Rottweiler Bree to the protest at the council’s service centre.

Ms Hager said there had been a lack of consultation by the council with dog owners.

The drop would affect popular dogwalking spots from Whare Flat to Waitati that would be off limits to dogs for a year.

‘‘There has been a serious lack of communication. It’s almost like it has been hidden underground so this sort of protest doesn’t happen.’’

Fellow protester Josie Harris said she was concerned about the impact of 1080 on people, especially if it got into waterways.

Ospri senior communications adviser Cameron Williamson said 7500 brochures on keeping dogs safe had been distributed before the drop.

‘‘People are right to feel concerned about the wellbeing of their pets. Contact with 1080 is usually lethal and it’s really important they take notice of the warning signs in place around the operational area.’’

The drop could be completed in a day and more than 90% of possums targeted would be killed in the first night, Mr Rohloff said.

Dunedin City Council chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose said the council agreed to Ospri’s request to do the drop. However, if it had declined, Ospri had the power to compel it to agree.

Dr Bidrose said she discussed the council’s position with the protesters.

‘‘We are always open to hearing from our residents and we did support them coming to share their views.’’

Ms Hager was ‘‘praying for rain’’ tomorrow and said the group was considering taking the dogs to protest outside Ospri’s Dunedin office.

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz

PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Fourlegged protest . . . Anti1080 protesters (from left) Michelle Hager with Bree, Samantha Luzzi with Rufus (left) and Maggie, Josie Harris and Marc Thomlinson, all of Dunedin, protest a 1080 drop set to fall on an 8600ha block in Dunedin at the...