It has been a long time coming but finally the Waikato Regional Council has taken a position on how it intends to use 1080 pest control methods.
Councillors spent close to three hours debating their position on aerial drops of the possum control pellets at the final meeting of the year on Tuesday, before unanimously voting to support a statement of intent.
Via Stuff Environment
Councillors spent close to three hours debating their position on aerial drops of the possum control pellets at the final meeting of the year on Tuesday, before unanimously voting to support a statement of intent.
Via Stuff Environment
Council will continue to oversee aerial 1080 drops, recognising they're still a core pest control tool, but its use will be governed by six guiding principles to better protect Waikato forests.
The proposal was initially criticised by councillor Clyde Graf, who described it as a "nothing new approach."
At a lengthy meeting in October, Graf asked council to agree to direct those charged with dropping 1080 to exclude it from all waterways, citing risks to human health when carcasses turn up in streams.
Councillor Bob Simcock said council should be clear on what Graf's recommendations were seeking - an end to aerial 1080 drops.
"If we're excluding from waterways, what we really mean is excluding aerial drops, so we need to be clear that's really what we're debating.
"What I've been waiting for in this whole debate, and not heard, is that government has got it wrong.
"In the end we have to base it on the evidence we have, and that's that 1080 is the most cost-effective pest control."
The agreed-upon document outlines six guiding principles describing the need for - better awareness, using best practice, collaboration, sticking to compliance standards, exploring alternatives and keeping pest control as efficient and effective as possible.
Graf withdrew this October recommendation, but emphasised the need for better notification around waterways exposed to 1080.
"If we're all going to sit around and say we're happy to have 1080 dropped into all streams, we should be open and fair to all our communities that that's what we're doing," he said.
Councillor Kathy White handed out a paper containing scientific claims around 1080 use and toxicologist reports.
"At the moment we have a Healthy Rivers Plan and we're addressing contaminants, so to me we're being a bit contradictory," she said.
However staff believed evidence for aerial 1080 use was around demonstrating the benefits of pest control, not scientific evaluation, Clare Crickett, integrated catchment management director said.
"The minute we go into that space we embrace the diversity and confusion and polarisation in the community."
The science debate should be left to national authorities, Crickett said.
Council chairwoman Paula Southgate said staff had had a good look at best practice around 1080, and that White and Graf's discussion had helped build a bigger picture.
"I would be delighted if 1080 disappeared overnight but the impact on the environment…"
"It would be terrific," Graf interjected.
"In my opinion it would be dire. Don't like it, nobody likes it," Southgate said.
Councillor Timoti Bramley wanted to strengthen the rules around aerial 1080 drops.
Bramley got unanimous support for a motion stating council work towards protecting waterways from 1080 as part of the 2016 Regional Plan Review to minimise adverse effects on the environment and public health.
"I sit here and speak to the spiritual health of the waterways. From a matauranga Maori perspective, the mauri of the river, is the mauri of me."
Chief executive Vaughan Payne said it was great that council, historically divided on the pest control poison, had reached an agreement over aerial drops.
- Stuff
The proposal was initially criticised by councillor Clyde Graf, who described it as a "nothing new approach."
At a lengthy meeting in October, Graf asked council to agree to direct those charged with dropping 1080 to exclude it from all waterways, citing risks to human health when carcasses turn up in streams.
Councillor Bob Simcock said council should be clear on what Graf's recommendations were seeking - an end to aerial 1080 drops.
"If we're excluding from waterways, what we really mean is excluding aerial drops, so we need to be clear that's really what we're debating.
"What I've been waiting for in this whole debate, and not heard, is that government has got it wrong.
"In the end we have to base it on the evidence we have, and that's that 1080 is the most cost-effective pest control."
The agreed-upon document outlines six guiding principles describing the need for - better awareness, using best practice, collaboration, sticking to compliance standards, exploring alternatives and keeping pest control as efficient and effective as possible.
Graf withdrew this October recommendation, but emphasised the need for better notification around waterways exposed to 1080.
"If we're all going to sit around and say we're happy to have 1080 dropped into all streams, we should be open and fair to all our communities that that's what we're doing," he said.
Councillor Kathy White handed out a paper containing scientific claims around 1080 use and toxicologist reports.
"At the moment we have a Healthy Rivers Plan and we're addressing contaminants, so to me we're being a bit contradictory," she said.
However staff believed evidence for aerial 1080 use was around demonstrating the benefits of pest control, not scientific evaluation, Clare Crickett, integrated catchment management director said.
"The minute we go into that space we embrace the diversity and confusion and polarisation in the community."
The science debate should be left to national authorities, Crickett said.
Council chairwoman Paula Southgate said staff had had a good look at best practice around 1080, and that White and Graf's discussion had helped build a bigger picture.
"I would be delighted if 1080 disappeared overnight but the impact on the environment…"
"It would be terrific," Graf interjected.
"In my opinion it would be dire. Don't like it, nobody likes it," Southgate said.
Councillor Timoti Bramley wanted to strengthen the rules around aerial 1080 drops.
Bramley got unanimous support for a motion stating council work towards protecting waterways from 1080 as part of the 2016 Regional Plan Review to minimise adverse effects on the environment and public health.
"I sit here and speak to the spiritual health of the waterways. From a matauranga Maori perspective, the mauri of the river, is the mauri of me."
Chief executive Vaughan Payne said it was great that council, historically divided on the pest control poison, had reached an agreement over aerial drops.
- Stuff
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