Department of Conservation tells Tourism company off

Milford Sound (Arthur, Sinbad and Cleddau Valleys) was aerially poisoned on 15 October 2019.

Pam Vernon reports, “A reader at the Envirowatch Rangitikei site today commented about warning the tourists on the dangers of drinking the water:

‘Hi there, my brother works as a skipper for one of the biggest tourism companies in Milford and one of the skippers warned the customers on the mic and a DoC member was on the boat and got seriously offended, called her boss then DoC warned the company — gave them a chewing. The company forced all skippers to say nothing at all or risk consequences. The company is afraid of the bad side of DoC because that’s who gives them there consent to cruise in Milford. Blackmail against freedom of speech. This is real as of the other day.’

“Another person said (14 October 2019, 1080 Eyewitness):

“DOC poisoning operation in Milford tomorrow. Who the hell gives DoC the right to poison our only water supply, the Bowen Falls? 650,000 tourists come here every year to view this pristine environment, if only they knew… ”

“I’m told the Bowen Falls are in the drop zone, and the whole township at Milford Sound and all the tourist boats are supplied by water from that source.

“The Milford Sound water intake is approximately 200 metres above the Bowen Falls, and I’m told the intake is only about 100 metres inside the top end of the buffer zone (yellow area on map). Helicopters were seen working along that face. Helicopter pilots tell me 250 metres is a minimum buffer zone for safety, and more if on a slope, as baits tumble into valleys. Poisoned carcasses will inevitably end up in that waterway, as well, providing further contamination.

“Apparently (according to Leslie McGrath) the Dept of Conservation will not take water tankers in to supply safe water because it is ‘too expensive’!”