Concerns over the wild deer population on the West Coast have again been raised as discussions begin on adapting the region's pest management plan which currently does not name any pest animals at all.
By Vihan Dalal, Local Democracy Reporter
The situation was described as "bizarre" during a presentation to the West Coast Conservation Board last week by the West Coast Regional Council.
Regional council environmental group manager Shanti Morgan said preliminary consultations on the draft Regional Pest Management Plan showed the public was split on a proposal to include wild animals in the next plan.
The plan is due to be redrafted in the next year before public consultation.
Feral deer numbers are increasing on the West Coast and increasingly are encountered on the region's remote highways by motorists, with local police regularly reporting collisions.
Deer also have significant impacts on farm pastures as well as browsing native vegetation.
West Coast Conservation Board chairman Dr Mike Legge asked how the regional council would go about controlling deer numbers under a future plan.
Morgan said other councils around the country had been using "sites" used to control pest animals.
"In Waikato and Taranaki they have possum control areas and they base it on enforcement but also a little bit of service delivery and rate for it ... a targeted rate."
Morgan said at least 80% of landowners would need to agree for an area to be designated as a wild animal control site.
Conservation board member Barry Wards was concerned the current pest plan made no provision for any pest animals.
"No possum, no ungulate, no deer – nothing."
Morgan said that omission was "bizarre".
Conservation Department Western South Island regional director Owen Kilgour said while the current plan did not name animals, submissions on the new pest management plan should encourage the inclusion of animals.
Morgan said the regional council was still consulting on adding feral deer. It would also consider asking for Government funding to implement any control measures.
"I think it is [worth] accessing central Government support and funding. The Regional Pest Management Plan does allow us to enforce rules, but it is also a good signal to the Government what this community cares about."
Not including particular pest animal species in the draft plant sent a signal to the Government the region does not support control, Morgan said.
"But, if we can gather enough feedback and say, 'no, the community does care about this' and use it as a way to access their government funding, it could be an option."
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ on Air
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