Farmers say rabbit control is a ‘train wreck’
Central Otago’s rabbit control is a ‘‘train wreck’’ with the regional council allegedly disrupting winter poisoning programmes.
Pest contractor Robert Andrews, of Galloway, said Ida Valley farmers and pest contractors had been battling with the Otago Regional Council since April for support to conduct a rabbit poisoning operation this winter but had been ‘‘mucked around’’ to the point the narrow window to poison was fast closing.
The council was in charge of enforcement and had previously done the poisoning. However, within the past couple of years had stepped away from the poisoning leaving it up to independent contractors.
There was an understanding the council would hire carrot cutting machines essential for poisoning operations to contractors, however requests had been turned down, Andrews said.
‘‘When we actually went to hire one, we found out we couldn’t. They have actively gone out to disrupt the poisoning operation this winter in the Ida Valley.‘‘
Council environmental monitoring and operations director Scott MacLean said the council had not denied any contractors carrot-cutting equipment.
‘‘ORC received a small number of enquiries this year from contractors wanting to hire our carrot processing equipment.
‘‘While we explored the feasibility of this, it potentially exposed us to unacceptable levels of risk and liability.
‘‘Because effective rabbit control is weather-dependent, there was a risk that if we hired the gear out, it could lead to double booking if one contractor was delayed by weather when another had ‘booked’ the gear.
‘‘We continue to supply prepared bait to contractors and landowners until they can meet demand on their own.
‘‘However, there is nothing stopping those who are able to buy or build similar equipment from doing so – and we believe an open and free market is in everyone’s interests.’’
The council decided to sell some of the carrot processing equipment on Trade Me instead of hiring it, he said.
‘‘The council’s asset disposal is conducted openly and transparently. Trade Me is one avenue which allows this to occur.
‘‘The successful bidder for the equipment we offered for sale was a local pest control contractor.
‘‘It’s noteworthy that he was the only bidder for the carrot processing equipment, despite it being open to everyone.
‘‘We have just listed some more equipment for sale on Trade Me.’’
Andrews said it was inappropriate for the council to sell the cutter on Trade Me
‘‘Essentially, the ORC have gone out of their way to disrupt a poisoning programme this winter.
‘‘The farmers who want to do the poisoning are being actively discouraged from doing it and the reality is those guys’ fathers, paid for those carrot cutters in the Rabbit Board days with their rates. Those carrot cutters belong to the farmers and ratepayers, not the regional council.’’
A pest contractor who was working with Ida Valley farmer bought the machinery, but it was missing critical parts further delaying the programme, Andrews said.
‘‘The window for poisoning is rapidly closing. This has been going on since April. Poisoning is a wintertime operation. The window of opportunity is about a six week to two month period.’’
‘‘It is a train wreck and it is squarely at the feet of the ORC... You have got landowners out there that will not do any rabbit control, yet when you have some who are wanting to have a positive effect on the land, the ORC are not helping. With the mucking around the ORC has done, the financial ramifications to those landowners not getting a poison operation done are immense. It could conceivably cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars.’’
A high-country Central Otago farmer said farmers were frustrated with the regional council’s back-track of support.
‘‘It is very frustrating because you are trying to do the right thing...the ORC had their own gear but weren’t letting it out...I don’t think shooting in our country is every going to do enough...parts of the land are quite bad with rabbits.’’
Former regional councillor and Alexandra farmer Gary Kelliher said the ability to poison was ‘‘critical’’ to control rabbit numbers.
‘‘When a councillor, the issue of being a regulator and enforcer, and then a provider of the service to rectify was regularly raised at the council table.
‘‘There is such a short window each year to be able to effectively poison. Every doe in the ground right now is full of babies and if you need to poison it’s critical to get it done otherwise your left with shooting for the rest of the year.
‘‘If we have seasons like the past several then rabbits will be totally out of control this year. I support the ORC leaving the poisoning service to contractors. It’s very disappointing if the ability to do that is being made difficult by council and I hope councillors will be asking some hard and fast questions.’’
The use of Trade Me to sell equipment was inappropriate, he said.
‘‘I personally do not agree with the use of Trade Me for the sale of equipment such as the carrot cutters. This is necessary for the control of rabbits for poisoning operations in Central Otago. Trade Me makes the sale available to all of New Zealand but the equipment is needed for use locally. A tender process by council that contractors can tender to would be a far more fair and effective way to ensure the equipment remains local.’’