That is the view of Otago Regional Council director, environmental monitoring and operations, Scott MacLean.
The council emphasised early last year that it was taking steps to follow up a hard-hitting report which had recently been tabled at a council meeting.
This report highlighted the need to counter the growing threat of wallaby incursions from South Canterbury.
And councillors approved the report's recommendation that a ‘‘comprehensive proactive wallaby incursion response, control and surveillance strategy, including funding implications and communications plan'', be drafted for consideration.
The staff report highlighted the incursions, including via the Hawkdun Range, and noted there were rising numbers of wallaby sightings in Otago.
The threat could be countered through a structured programme that complemented the eradication programme undertaken by Environment Canterbury (ECan) for wallabies outside the containment zone, south of the Waitaki River, the report said.
Mr MacLean said there was no room for complacency about the wallaby threat.
South Canterbury farmers would readily confirm the damage to production already caused by growing numbers of wallabies in that area, he said.
Council members heard last year that wallabies were already to be found in large numbers in a 300,000ha area administered by ECan.
And ORC chairman Stephen Woodhead emphasised the need to counter wallaby incursions.
Rabbits had already caused extensive damage, and it was vital for future generations money be spent soon to check what could be a huge long-term burden, if wallabies established themselves permanently in Otago, Mr Woodhead has said.
Mr MacLean said the council would early this year be actively monitoring potential wallaby pathways into Otago via the Hawkdun Range, and would be synchronising its efforts with those of ECan.
ECan would be monitoring the northern side of the range and ORC contractors would be monitoring the southern side.
‘‘It's really important that we share our knowledge.''
Further intelligence gathering and sharing would be a key part of the ORC approach over the next couple of years.
Links with ECan had already proved valuable.
Doc was another important agency, and the council had also gained ‘‘really useful information'' from talking to Tb Free New Zealand staff involved in possum control work.
Anyone who saw or shot a wallaby in North Otago was asked to note the location, and to contact the ORC with the information, which was important for planning, he said.
