Consultation on 1080 drop a concern
TBfree NZ has dismissed concerns from a Waikato regional councillor about the lack of consultation over a 1080 poison drop this month.
Taupo¯ -Rotorua-based Waikato regional councillor Kathy White feared people were unaware of the drop in the Pı¯hanga/ Kakaramea area, southwest of Lake Taupo¯ , and would not know to access an alternative water supply.
The drop is part of TBfree NZ’s ongoing programme to control possums, rats and other pests.
White attended a meeting along with 30 other residents on June 13 hosted by OSPRI, the company that manages TBfree NZ. She said their biggest concern was about the water supply, with the bait possibly landing in streams.
White feared TBfree NZ had limited its consultation to that solitary meeting.
People living outside the poison drop area but who were within 3km of it are entitled to an alternative water supply, she said.
‘‘The problem with that is that you have to know about it to ask for it.
‘‘I think it should be a requirement that the pest contractor identifies all of those people. It shouldn’t be that hard – it’s not a huge area,’’ she said.
An OSPRI spokesman said consultation had been ongoing since June 2017.
‘‘The remaining landowners either directly affected or adjacent to the operation have been consulted with over the last three months regarding all aspects of the operation.
‘‘Two drop-in information sessions were also held in the area. Consultation has included discussions around the use of water for domestic supply.’’
But White remained concerned about a lack of information regarding the drop’s effect on streams. ‘‘They say nothing in their literature that says, ‘If you live outside the area, and if you’re drawing water from a stream, you need to contact us.’ ’’
White said drinking water can be contaminated through baits being dropped directly into streams, from poisoned animal carcasses decomposing in waterways, and through 1080 dust landing on house roofs and being transferred to water tanks.
However, the OSPRI spokesman said Landcare and Niwa research showed 1080 was highly soluble and quickly disperses.
‘‘We know that pellet bait can sometimes fall into small waterways as the result of aerial application; however, research where bait was deliberately placed in small streams found that 1080 was undetectable in the water after only eight hours.’’