Kaitoke Weir Given The All Clear

Greater Wellington has now started taking water again from the Kaitoke weir after the latest tests showed that any remaining bait had been neutralised following the recent rain.

Greater Wellington Regional Council stopped taking water supplies from the weir immediately prior to a possum control operation using 1080 poison that started on 7 August 2009.

Maintaining high quality forests with low possum numbers provides a primary barrier against dirty and contaminated source water, thus minimising the treatment required to ensure safe drinking water.

There is still a risk to dogs scavenging carcasses from possums killed by 1080. This means that the treated areas of the Hutt water collection area, Kaitoke Regional Park on the western side of the Hutt River and Akatarawa Saddle Block will remain closed to dogs for some further months until carcasses have decomposed. Warning signs advising this will remain in place at all entrances to the catchment area until this time.

People exercising their dogs along the banks of the Hutt River are urged to keep them on a leash and under close supervision. Carcasses from possums killed by 1080 may have been washed down the Hutt River following recent heavy rains. Greater Wellington officers have been doing regular river bank and coastal inspections but cannot guarantee to find all possum carcasses, particularly amongst willow rows. Numerous possum carcasses that have not been poisoned have been found.

If a dog does eat from a dead possum it should be made to vomit immediately and then taken to a vet.

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