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11 June 2020
To Whom It May Concern
NOTIFICATION OF IMPENDING COMMENCEMENT - AORERE PREDATOR CONTROL OPERATION
Vector Free Marlborough Limited (VFML) wishes to advise landowners and other interested parties of its intention to aerially apply the toxin sodium fluoroacetate (1080) for the purpose of controlling rats, stoats and possums in the Aorere treatment area between 22 June and 15 December 2020.
The Aorere operation is a continuation of the wider Kahurangi project which commenced in May 2019, and is being carried out by VFML on behalf of the Department of Conservation (DOC) to protect vulnerable native species from introduced predators. The enclosed factsheet provides further information about why the operation is being carried out.
Description of Area
The treatment area comprises approximately 50,000 hectares of Kahurangi National Park and North-west Nelson Forest Park between the coast at Kahurangi Point/Big Bay and the Aorere River in the east. The southern boundary is at the Domett Range. A section of the Heaphy Track between Brown Hut and approximately 3 km west of James Mackay Hut is included.
Maps of the treatment area are available from the VFML & DOC websites, and may also be viewed at DOC offices in Takaka and Westport during business hours from Monday to Friday.
Public Access & Recreational Facilities
The Aorere block takes in the eastern part of the Heaphy Track and the associated Shakespeare Flat Track. Tracks will be closed to public access whilst application of toxic bait takes place, and afterwards until field staff have inspected for and removed most toxic baits. Tracks will be open during non-toxic prefeed application, but access restrictions may be in place for short periods of time.
Huts and other back-country accommodation will generally be excluded from bait application during the application of toxic bait to each block, although certain low-use sites may be over-sown subject to occupancy and consent conditions, in which case VFML field operatives will be onsite to inspect for and recover toxic baits from open areas afterward.
Affected DOC managed accommodation facilities in the treatment area will be provided with alternative drinking water supplies in accordance with Public Health Permit conditions while the application of toxic bait is carried out.
Warning signage and access barriers will be in place at all track entrances immediately prior to the application of toxic bait, and DOC and/or VFML representatives will be stationed at a number of key sites to control access and provide information to visitors. Advisory signage will be installed at key sites prior to non-toxic prefeed application.
Commencement Date
The Aorere operation is scheduled to commence from 22/06/2020, beginning with the aerial application of non-toxic cereal pre-feed pellets and followed five or more days later by the aerial application of cereal pellets containing 1080.
All work is weather dependent and people intending to visit the affected area before 15/12/2020 are advised to check the VFML and DOC websites for the status of the operation, and/or seek up-to-date information from DOC offices in Takaka and Westport.
Bait Description
Pre-feed: Non-toxic cereal based pellet, approximately 20mm long, cinnamon-lured and non-dyed (sandy coloured).
Toxic bait: Cereal based pellet, approximately 20mm long, cinnamon-lured and dyed green with a toxic loading of 0.15% sodium fluoroacetate (1080).
All bait will be applied using helicopters equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) hardware to ensure accurate placement and adherence to consent conditions.
Precautions
This pesticide is poisonous to humans and domestic animals. The public are reminded of the danger that toxic baits and possum carcasses pose, particularly to children and dogs.
Children should be kept under strict supervision in the treatment area. Dogs should be kept under strict control at all times and not have access to, or be taken into the treatment area as they are particularly susceptible to accidental poisoning through contact with 1080 bait and poisoned carcasses. The risks of poison carcasses to dogs may extend downstream of the control area.
Game animals should not be sold or taken for eating from within or adjacent to this area until it is declared clear of pesticides.
Warning signs will be erected at all main public entry points and the public are reminded that it is an offence to remove any of these signs. Warning signage will remain in place until monitoring indicates that bait and carcasses no longer contain pesticide residues. Observe the following precautions whenever you see toxin warning signs present:
- DO NOT touch bait
- WATCH CHILDREN at all times
- DO NOT EAT animals from this area or from within the “buffer zone” outside the treatment area boundary. The buffer zone is 200m for rabbits, 1km for hares, tahr, wallabies and possums, and 2 km for deer, pigs and any other animals.
- DEADLY TO DOGS, do not allow dogs access to animal carcasses
**If you suspect poisoning
Contact your local hospital, or dial 111
National Poisons Centre 0800 POISON – 0800 764 766
In the case of a domestic animal being poisoned, contact a local veterinarian.
For further information please contact the Aorere Operation Controller:
Yours sincerely,
Barry Polson
Director, Vector Free Marlborough Limited
Approved contractor to DOC
Vector Free Marlborough Limited (VFML) is proud to work alongside the Department of Conservation to deliver the Aorere operation.
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