NOTIFICATION OF IMPENDING COMMENCEMENT OF KARNBACH POERUA POSSUM CONTROL OPERATION Vector Free Marlborough Limited (VFML) has been engaged by TBfree

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1 NOTIFICATION OF IMPENDING COMMENCEMENT OF KARNBACH POERUA POSSUM CONTROL OPERATION Vector Free Marlborough Limited (VFML) has been engaged by TBfree New Zealand to carry out an aerial possum control operation in the Karnbach and Poerua project areas. VFML representatives have been visiting affected landowners during the past few months in order to explain what's proposed, obtain landowner consent and gather information about matters such as water supplies and livestock containment. Indicative commencement date The first phase of the operation involves aerial application of non-toxic pre-feed bait and is scheduled to begin from 30 July 2018, with aerial application of bait containing biodegradable Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) to follow approximately 7-10 days later. Each phase of the operation is weather dependent, and commencement of both prefeeding and toxin application may occur later than indicated. Note application of bait containing toxin will not take place during any school or public holiday period. Description of control area This operation is comprised of two distinct blocks, Karnbach and Poerua, which share a common boundary in the Wanganui catchment upstream of State Highway 6 (refer enclosed map). Both areas include Department of Conservation managed and privately-owned land. Karnbach: The Karnbach control area is 8,817 ha with boundaries defined by the Waitaha and Wanganui rivers to the north and south respectively, Karnbach Ridge and the Amethyst catchment to the east, and State Highway 6 to the west. The most notable waterways are the Waitaha and Wanganui rivers, which both have tributaries originating in the control area. Poerua: The Poerua control area is 4,835 ha with boundaries defined by the Wanganui and Poerua rivers to the north and south, and the Willberg Range and State Highway 6 forming the east and west boundaries respectively. The most notable waterways are the Poerua and Wanganui rivers, which both have tributaries originating in the control area. Description of bait Pre-feed: Non-toxic cereal-based pellet, approximately 30mm long, non-dyed (light brown in colour). Toxic bait: Cereal-based pellet, approximately 30mm long, cinnamon-lured and dyed green with a toxic loading of 0.15% Sodium fluoroacetate (1080). Recommended precautions The public are reminded of the danger that toxic baits and possum carcasses pose, particularly to children and dogs. Children must be kept under strict supervision in the control area. Dogs must be kept under strict control at all times and not have access to, or be taken into, the control area, as they are particularly susceptible to harm from contact with 1080 baits and poisoned carcasses. The risk that poisoned carcasses pose to dogs may extend downstream of the control area. Toxin warning signs will be installed at main public entry points and the public are reminded that it is an offence to remove this warning signage. Please follow the instructions on the signs. Game animals should not be sold or taken for eating from within or adjacent to this area until the area is declared clear of pesticides. Enclosed with this letter are key fact sheets providing further information about the operation, the methodology being used and the precautions that should be taken.

2 Contact for further information If you have any questions or need more information, please or call our free phone Yours sincerely Barry Polson Director Vector Free Marlborough Limited Approved Contractor to TBfree New Zealand

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4 KARNBACK AERIAL BOVINE TB CONTROL OPERATION OSPRI S TBFREE PROGRAMME The TBfree programme aims to manage and eventually eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) from New Zealand s farmed cattle and deer and wild animal populations. Controlling disease prevents livestock production losses and protects the world leading reputation of New Zealand s dairy, beef and deer products. We use possum control, along with regular herd testing and movement restrictions, to achieve our eradication goals. Information gathered from wild animal surveys, recent and historic findings of TB in wild animals, herd testing results and the operational history of the region is used when planning operations. TARGETING POSSUMS We re running a possum control operation in the Karnback area (please see map provided for the operation area). It will cover approximately 8,000 hectares. To eradicate bovine TB, possum numbers need to be kept extremely low around one to two animals every 10 hectares. Monitoring has shown that further control work is needed HOW WE CONTROL TB MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS Stops the spread of TB from infected or high risk animals in the Karnback area to reduce the possum population and minimise the risk of the disease spreading through wild animal populations and onto farmed cattle and deer. Possum control has dramatically reduced the number of infected herds in the West Coast region. This area was last treated in PEST MANAGEMENT Reduces pests which carry and spread TB DISEASE CONTROL Identifies and manages infected herds WHAT TO EXPECT The operation will begin with the distribution of non-toxic, tan-coloured cereal pellets by helicopter. This prefeed gives possums a taste for the pellets and overcomes bait shyness. One to two weeks later, toxic, green cereal pellets each containing

5 Matt Binns 0.15 percent biodegradable sodium fluoroacetate (also known as 1080) will be applied by helicopter at a rate of two kilograms per hectare. That s about one bait to every 60 square metres. The Karnback operation will be subject to strict safety, quality-assurance and monitoring requirements. Advanced GPS navigational equipment will be used to ensure the pellets are accurately placed and exclusion zones avoided. THE METHOD The vast majority of possum control in the region is done by local contractors using ground-based traps and hand-laid toxins. The remaining, far smaller area is controlled using aerially applied pellets containing biodegradable Aerial control is efficient, cost effective and has been extremely successful at knocking possum numbers down to very low levels in the past. It is preferred in areas like Karnback due to the rugged nature of the terrain. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment also supports aerial control. The commissioner completed an extensive review into the use of 1080, in which she strongly endorsed its continued use in New Zealand. Please visit pce.parliament.nz to read this report. WHAT HAPPENS NOW This operation will commence from 1 July 2018, onwards. A contractor will be doing the work on behalf of OSPRI s TBfree programme. Before the operation, affected landowners and occupiers will be contacted and visited by one of our contractors. They will discuss boundary issues, water supply safety and the management of any risks to dogs and livestock. Consents from the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Health are required for this operation. Affected landowners and occupiers will be contacted again before the operation starts, notices will be published in local newspapers and warning signs will be placed at all likely access points to the operational area. BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS The operation will have additional conservation benefits for native birds and bush. Possums eat the forest canopy and prey on native birdlife, including eggs and chicks. Biodegradable 1080 is also extremely effective at controlling other introduced predators such as ship rats and stoats.

6 POERUA AERIAL BOVINE TB CONTROL OPERATION OSPRI S TBFREE PROGRAMME The TBfree programme aims to manage and eventually eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) from New Zealand s farmed cattle and deer and wild animal populations. Controlling disease prevents livestock production losses and protects the world leading reputation of New Zealand s dairy, beef and deer products. We use possum control, along with regular herd testing and movement restrictions, to achieve our eradication goals. Information gathered from wild animal surveys, recent and historic findings of TB in wild animals, herd testing results and the operational history of the region is used when planning operations. TARGETING POSSUMS We re running a possum control operation in the Poerua area (please see map provided for the operation area). It will cover approximately 4,000 hectares. This area is upstream of a herd that has been recently infected and which has a previous history of infection from a wildlife source. HOW WE CONTROL TB MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS Stops the spread of TB from infected or high risk animals To eradicate bovine TB, possum numbers need to be kept extremely low around one to two animals every 10 hectares. Possum control has dramatically reduced the number of infected herds in the West Coast region. This area was last treated in PEST MANAGEMENT Reduces pests which carry and spread TB DISEASE CONTROL Identifies and manages infected herds WHAT TO EXPECT The operation will begin with the distribution of non-toxic, tan-coloured cereal pellets by helicopter. This prefeed gives possums a taste for the pellets and overcomes bait shyness. One to two weeks later, toxic, green

7 Matt Binns cereal pellets each containing 0.15 percent biodegradable sodium fluoroacetate (also known as 1080) will be applied by helicopter at a rate of two kilograms per hectare. That s about one bait to every 60 square metres. The Poerua operation will be subject to strict safety, quality-assurance and monitoring requirements. Advanced GPS navigational equipment will be used to ensure the pellets are accurately placed and exclusion zones avoided. THE METHOD The vast majority of possum control in the region is done by local contractors using ground-based traps and hand-laid toxins. The remaining, far smaller area is controlled using aerially applied pellets containing biodegradable Aerial control is efficient, cost effective and has been extremely successful at knocking possum numbers down to very low levels in the past. It is preferred in areas like Poerua due to the rugged nature of the terrain. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment also supports aerial control. The commissioner completed an extensive review into the use of 1080, in which she strongly endorsed its continued use in New Zealand. Please visit pce.parliament.nz to read this report. WHAT HAPPENS NOW This operation will commence from 1 July 2018, onwards. A contractor will be doing the work on behalf of OSPRI s TBfree programme. Before the operation, affected landowners and occupiers will be contacted and visited by one of our contractors. They will discuss boundary issues, water supply safety and the management of any risks to dogs and livestock. Consents from the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Health are required for this operation. Affected landowners and occupiers will be contacted again before the operation starts, notices will be published in local newspapers and warning signs will be placed at all likely access points to the operational area. BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS The operation will have additional conservation benefits for native birds and bush. Possums eat the forest canopy and prey on native birdlife, including eggs and chicks. Biodegradable 1080 is also extremely effective at controlling other introduced predators such as ship rats and stoats.

8 IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT POISONING Warning signs will be placed at all main access points to the operational area and everyone must follow the cautions on the signs. There s no health risk when using this area as long as you follow these instructions: Do not handle any bait or allow children to wander unsupervised. Cereal baits containing 1080 are dyed green. Do not hunt or take game from within a two kilometre radius of the operational area for human or pet consumption. It s an offence to sell meat products that have been exposed to Hunting can resume approximately four months following the control work, or after two months if 100mm of rain has fallen. Please observe these rules whenever you see warning signs about the pesticide. Warning signs indicate that pesticide residues may still be present in baits or animals. When the signs are officially removed, you can resume normal activities in the area. Contact your local hospital or doctor, or dial 111 National Poisons Centre 0800 POISON ( ) If a domestic animal is poisoned, contact a local veterinarian. Do not bring dogs into the area until the warning signs have been officially removed. Dogs are particularly susceptible to They must not be allowed access to bait or poisoned carcasses which remain toxic to dogs until they have fully decomposed. THERE IS NO RISK TO PUBLIC DRINKING WATER Biodegradable 1080 is highly soluble and does not persist in water or soil. Local health authorities apply strict conditions to aerial operations so that drinking water supplies are not contaminated. Safety has been confirmed by tests on several thousand water samples taken after aerial 1080 operations over many years. FURTHER INFORMATION OSPRI OSPRI Greymouth Office PO Box 535, Greymouth 7840 P E vectornsi@tbfree.org.nz ospri.co.nz Contractor Vector Free Marlborough Limited, Blenheim P E communications@ vectorfree.co.nz For more information on controlling bovine TB and why 1080 is used in New Zealand, visit 1080facts.co.nz