Green light for 1080 drop

The Department of Conservation has been given consent to aerially drop 1080 poison on 2852 hectares of conservation land and 801ha of adjoining private land in the Isolated Hill Scenic Reserve, near Ward, but it was a close call.

Commissioner Murray Hunt granted the department a discharge consent following a hearing in June, but said in his written decision he had done so only "by a narrow margin".

A consent was needed because the discharge is by air to land in circumstances where it may enter water.

Mr Hunt heard from the department and Landcare Research during the hearing, as well anti-1080 campaigners Lloyd Hanson and Clyde Graf. Mr Graf played one of two documentaries he has made against the use of the poison.

Mr Hunt said while he had decided in favour of the consent, evidence given about the need for 1080 use in the reserve had been "less comprehensive than I might have liked".

"I would have preferred the analysis of current possum numbers was more comprehensive and I have found the analysis of foliage not particularly helpful or persuasive," Mr Hunt said.

Evidence of the need for aerial treatment was also "less comprehensive than might have been desirable".

Mr Hunt said he accepted Mr Hanson and Mr Graf genuinely believed aerial 1080 drops were damaging the environment without providing a corresponding benefit.

However, he said he was not in a position to enter that debate. The use of 1080 had been addressed by the Environmental Risk Management Authority when it reassessed the poison's use two years ago.

"It is not something I have authority to or would be prepared to re-litigate."

Mr Graf's documentary was "powerful" and an impressive piece of film-making, but limited attempts had been made to balance the benefits of 1080 use.

"While I am not critical of that, it needs to be noted so as to put the DVD into perspective."

DoC South Marlborough Biodiversity Threats Programme manager Malcolm Brennan said yesterday the aerial drop could begin in September or October if weather permitted.

The drop, as part of possum control, is the latest in a 17-year pest control programme to protect the reserve's significant and diverse limestone plant communities.

"Limestone plant communities are uncommon in New Zealand and those found in Isolated Hill Scenic Reserve are particularly special."

Mr Brennan said the operation would also be part of a Landcare Research trial looking at options for reducing bait sowing rates with a view to being able to apply less 1080 in pest-control operations in the future.

A lower sowing rate of 250 grams of cereal bait per hectare will be trialled over about half the operational area, with a rate of three kilograms per hectare over the remaining part.

He also said that while it was likely some baits would fall into some waterways, 1080 rapidly diluted in water and was broken down by aquatic plants and organisms.

Mr Graf said yesterday this was true.

"Yes, aquatic life and plants take it up, but then other native animals eat those."

He was not planning to appeal the decision, but said the "whole lie" of aerial 1080 was about to collapse.

Mr Hanson could not be contacted for comment.

- The Marlborough Express