Council chief executive Darryl Lew acknowledged during a workshop presentation this week tensions existed between the regional council and the government over the eradication of pest animals — goats, pigs and deer.
He made the comment during a workshop on Biosecurity New Zealand’s functions and how those intersect with proposed changes to the West Coast regional pest management plan.
"Where the government agency says ‘we’re trying to eradicate, but we’re starting to lose the battle. We might have to surrender on this one and hand the matter over to you as regional councils to manage’."
The proposed species to be included in the pest plan which are not in it at present are wild deer, feral cats, goats, mustelids, pigs, possums, rats and wallabies.
Environmental science group manager Shanti Morgan said the approach to wild ungulates (deer, pigs and goats), handed to the regional council from the government, had "costs and benefits".
"Basically, we have got to protect the country from all these things that are coming in, we cannot do everything.
"So, they have to draw the line somewhere."
But Cr Peter Ewen criticised Doc for passing on the responsibility for feral animal control to the regional council.
"I am pretty surprised that deer, pigs and goats are going to be passed on to the regional council and their ratepayer[s] because Doc are abdicating their responsibility.
"I will not have a bar of that."
He would vote against any future recommendation for the council’s 21,000 West Coast rating units to bear the extra cost.
Cr Ewen noted the cost of living as another reason why the cost should be borne by Doc instead of ratepayers when it came to eradicating wild ungulates.
"How can we justify charging them [ratepayers] to get rid of a government agency’s problem when we have to fix it?"
Ms Morgan clarified her comment.
She said Doc had not asked the regional council to take over the management of feral animals.
However, it would be meeting with the department to discuss this issue.
Council chairman Colin Smith said the workshop was an opportunity for the community to provide their views on feral animal management to the council.
"We as councillors representing our community have to listen to our community.
"So, if our community says, ‘yes, we want to control ungulates’, then we as councillors have a responsibility to act on what our community is telling us."
Cr Allan Birchfield said he opposed regional councils having to pay for ungulate control.
"I’m not interested in any of this — 85% of the West Coast is not rated.
"Most of these pests are coming from government [Crown] land and it’s a bit tough for the government to now say that the ratepayers have to start paying for this problem."
He supported the council carrying out ungulate management on behalf of the Crown, provided the government continued to fund it.
The council operates a wholly owned subsidiary, Vector Control Services Ltd, which already undertakes contracted pest animal control including for Doc.
"No money should come from the ratepayers for any of this. I’m just not interested."
Mr Lew said ungulate numbers on the West Coast had skyrocketed and the council had to consider various options to manage the feral animals.
"We need to put up and canvass and hear all the options,"
That included who would pay.
"This is a conversation that we need to have with our communities about how we want to do this and how.
"Central to that is what is the government’s role here and are they going to play a part including financially?"
Ms Morgan agreed and said the proposed pest management plan did not mean ratepayers would be charged for pest control, but it could be used as a signal to the government that "this is a priority for our region and that they need to actually do something about it".
Doc has been approached for comment.
• LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ on Air.
By Vihan Dalal
