St Bathans residents
have been assured carrots laced with 1080 will not be dropped
anywhere near the town's water supply.
One resident, who did not want to be named, contacted the
Otago Daily Times yesterday concerned plain carrots had been
dropped from the air in and around a water race on Thursday,
and that toxic carrots would also be dropped there.
However, Otago Regional Council regional services group
manager Jeff Donaldson said last night residents had nothing
to worry about.
The ORC had received permission from the Otago medical
officer of health to drop untainted carrots close to the
water race on Thursday, and again next week.
But because of the health regulations, toxic carrots would be
laid by hand near the water race, and had to be placed at
least 50m away from the water's edge.
Carrots would be dropped from the air on to surrounding
farmland.
The toxic carrots would be distributed in about two weeks'
time, depending on how well the rabbits took the untainted
bait, and providing weather conditions were favourable.
The operation in the St Bathans area was one of the larger
ones carried out recently, Mr Donaldson said.
Several landowners including the Department of Conservation,
had joined forces to ensure the rabbit problem was tackled
over as wide an area as possible.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.