Fears TB will rise if funding stops

The number of infected cows with TB has dropped from about 290 herds in the early 90s to fewer than six herds. Photo / Christine Cornege

The Animal Health Board is opposing a move by the Waikato Regional Council to scrap funding a long-running TB control programme, saying it could jeopardise the region's cattle.

The council has controversially proposed removing $825,000 funding for bovine tuberculosis control in possums and ferrets from its 10-year long-term plan from July because it is not core council business.

Council biosecurity and natural heritage group manager John Simmons said it fell low on the priority list and he felt it was time after more than 20 years of assistance that the Animal Health Board took responsibility for the national programme. Its funding contributions have ranged between $500,000 and $1.2 million.

The council's contributes about 12 per cent of the funding for the region with the Government and farmers also providing funds to monitor and a mix of controls including 1080, trapping and bait stations.

"If it's $700,000 or $800,000 that the regional council doesn't have to collect and pass over to the Animal Health Board that's a money-saving exercise. Whether the council decides to spend that money on something else, well that could be entirely appropriate. It could be a core business activity, it could be something higher up the priority list."

The council used a targeted differential rate for rural properties and lifestyle blocks to collect the funds but wanted the board to take it over.

But Animal Health Board chief executive William McCook said the board relied on the funds to carry out its work in the area.

"Any cut to the regional council's contribution would have an impact on these other funding sources and seriously compromise efforts to eradicate TB from the region."

Mr McCook said there had previously been a lot of public support for the funding to be included.

The number of infected cows with TB has dropped significantly in the Waikato. There were 17 cases of infections in 2008 and two in 2011.

Waikato Federated Farmers president James Houghton said he would be opposing the proposed cuts and had concerns about an increase of TB in livestock and access to international markets.

"The regional money helps get the national money so without their money we have the potential to lose a lot of services required in that area."

Mr Houghton said it was disappointing Waikato was the only regional council to back away from the deal. "I can't understand where they are coming from, AHB pays them to collect the money so what is the issue."

Upper Coromandel Landcare Association spokeswoman Riehana Robinson said the move was hypocritical.

"Claiming that AHB pest control suddenly is not core business while handing out $6 million of cold ratepayer cash for an elite cycle track is outrageous. Ratepayers should be funding neither."

The relationship between the council and the AHB appears to have been strained since the board took back management of the programme three years ago. The council withdrew funding in 2008 only to reinstate it the following year.

The council will consider the cuts next week.