In fact, Otago was the only region left with full capability, plant- and expertise-wise, to deal with rabbit problems, chief executive Graeme Martin said at Thursday's finance and corporate committee meeting.
"It is of serious concern that capital equipment and expertise to do this type of job has fallen away and we're the only region left with full capability."
Cr Gerry Eckhoff raised his concerns during a discussion on the council's eight-month financial report, which showed the number of contracts awarded to the council's contracting arm, Regional Services, was less than expected. Therefore, the revenue was $874,000 less than budgeted, the project showing a deficit of about $211,000.
"This is core business of this council. If we don't receive these contracts, what happens to the staff? Potentially our intellectual property is lost and it is quite essential that remains available to this council."
Corporate director Wayne Scott said in the past three months Regional Services had been restructured, changing its focus from being the "contracting arm" of the council to effectively managing the compliance section. Contracting pest-management work was now a secondary priority.
The council had agreed to retain the ability to do rabbit-control work but had decided no longer to seek contracts for Animal Health Board possum-control work that did not bring great returns, such as in small, scrubby sections of land.
That had meant a reduction in some staff, as the area "could not pay its way". However, key plant and expertise for rabbit-control work was retained.
"I suspect we'll need that in the next year or two."
Mr Martin said the council would still be able to do large-scale aerial control work in the open country, even though that work was diminishing.
Of concern was a shortage of aerial capability across New Zealand, and other regions were looking to Otago for training in rabbit control, he said.
Regional Services' staff numbers had always fluctuated depending on season and workload.
• The regional council has issued one notice of direction to a property owner not complying with the regulation to keep rabbit numbers under the maximum allowable level (MAL) 3.
Four property plans identifying how the owners planned to get numbers down were requested from property owners who also breached MAL 3, it was reported in the regulatory committee meeting on Thursday.
