DOC: Logs disprove 1080 claim

The Department of Conservation is rejecting claims by two Taranaki contractors who said they were not warned before being showered with 1080 pellets while working near Egmont National Park.

Brothers Lewis and Dan Beattie were on a 12-man crew spraying weeds in Lucy's Gully, near Oakura, when the pellets landed on them from a helicopter.

The men, who admit they are anti-1080, said they were phoned about the drop only after the incident happened.

DOC says its phone logs confirm the "contractor involved" was one of more than 200 people specifically told two or three days before the February 20-21 operation was carried out.

Beck Helicopters of Eltham was contracted by DOC to drop the pellets, and yesterday Alan Beck also rejected the Beatties' claims.

Mr Beck said they use great caution with the substance to protect properties outside the area as well as the company's reputation.

"The closest 1080 got to the the boundary was 250m away," he said.

"For the first time everything has gone right for us. There were no breakdowns, missed drops or anything.

"As far as I'm concerned we did everything right."

He said a few property owners can get a little paranoid when helicopters fly overhead.

"Especially the ones with fences around their gardens."

But the Beatties were not backing down.

Lewis Beattie said the helicopter contractor could make any claims he wanted because he is certain about what he saw.

"We were told if we heard the chopper we were to get out of the area but we were not expecting them to fly over that day," he said.

"He was well over the drop zone when the pilot flew over the house.

"How would you feel if it was dropped near you?" Mr Beattie said.

- © Fairfax NZ News