No time frame for probe into dumping of poison
The Department of Conservation is unsure how long it will take to complete the investigation into the dumping of 1080 poison on Stewart Island.
About 75kg of 1080 had been dumped in a swamp by a contractor close to the Rakeahua River mouth, 30 metres off a public track in the national park.
The contractor confirmed that three 25kg bags of possum cereal bait containing 1080 were left in a remote back country area during a five-month ground baiting operation.
DOC deputy-director general operations Mike Slater said the bait was retrieved by department staff and was now in a secure storage facility, and would be disposed of via an approved chemical waste disposal company.
The bait would remain in secure storage as evidence until the completion of the investigation, he said. After that, the bait will be disposed of on the mainland at an approved disposal facility.
A DOC spokesman confirmed that Leith Contractors Ltd was being investigated in relation to the dumping.
The New Zealand Companies Office listed Anthony Leith as the sole director of Leith Contractors Ltd. Leith has been contacted for comment but has not returned calls.
Poison not used in the field must be returned to a secure storage facility before being sent to professional waste management and disposal specialists.
‘‘In this instance, the contractor themselves was required to remove all unused baits from the field at the end of the contract,’’ Slater said.
As soon as DOC was made aware of the issue, staff acted swiftly to remove the dumped toxin to dispose of it correctly, he said.
DOC did not yet have a time frame for when the investigation would be completed, he said.
Environment Southland is waiting on a report from DOC before it decides whether it will take any action over the dumping.