Theft of West Coast warning signs unacceptable

22 July 2011

Theft of West Coast warning signs unacceptable

The Animal Health Board (AHB) strongly condemns the reckless theft of warning signs from the Blue Spur bovine tuberculosis (TB) control area.

AHB Operational Policy Manager Nick Hancox said the signs were removed on Wednesday, following Sunday’s aerial application of biodegradable sodium fluoroacetate (1080).

The AHB complies with strict regulations around the public notification of both ground and aerial TB control operations.

The warning signs form an important part of this notification process. They clearly state which toxins have been used to control the introduced wild animal species responsible for spreading TB to farmed cattle and deer

“The signs are a precautionary measure, particularly to remind dog owners not to take pets into the area until the warning signs have been officially removed,” said Mr Hancox.

The police have been informed of the situation. The theft has a maximum penalty of a prison term or $2000 fine.

“The signs have now been replaced – the cost of which will be covered in part by West Coast ratepayers,” said Mr Hancox.

“The nature of this incident highlights the criminal lengths that a small minority will go to in order to jeopardise the work being carried out by contractors on behalf of the AHB,” he said.

Annual ground-based work, complemented by aerial control operations, targets possums to prevent the spread of TB to cattle and deer, protecting the region’s $700 million per year pastoral agricultural industry.

ENDS

© Scoop Media