Fears that toxic sprays killed native skinks and katipo spiders living in Papamoa's sand dunes could force Tauranga City Council into more environmentally friendly methods.
The council has launched an investigation into the claim by toxic sprays watchdog Spraywatch that the sprays were illegally killing protected skinks.
Spraywatch co-ordinator Jacqui Martin saidresidents have seen no live skinks in the dunes since the council began spraying to kill the non-native vegetation.
In a campaign that began last October, Ms Martin said she was at first given a "complete runaround" by various departments and personnel. Spraywatch had approached the city council, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Department of Conservation.
Tauranga City Council contractors are spraying areas invaded by non-native plants, including areas illegally encroached by landowners living behind the dunes.
The dunes were then replanted in native dune species.
The New Zealand Herpetological Society proved very helpful in Spraywatch's campaign, saying it had surveyed dunes near Papamoa and identified populations of katipo spiders and shore skinks. The society had informed the regional council's Coastcare co-ordinator that shore skinks were protected under the Wildlife Act.
Spraywatch then contacted Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson who replied: "All of New Zealand's native lizards are protected under the Wildlife Act. As a consequence, you would be breaking the law if you attempt to eradicate them by using toxic agrichemicals."
In February, Ms Martin gave Tauranga's Mayor Stuart Crosby a copy of the email from Mrs Wilkinson and presented him with sustainable solutions to the problem.
"Toxic agrichemicals are still annihilating native skinks either indirectly by filling the vegetation in their habitat or directly by chemically poisoning them."
Mr Crosby told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend that Ms Martin had raised a very good point. "Clearly, we must comply with the Act, and if we are in breach then we will take immediate action."
Council reserves staff were seeking clarification of the legal situation and Mr Crosby promised it would not be a lengthy inquiry.
If they were in the wrong, they would immediately cease using the sprays, he said.
Alternative options were to use sprays that did not breach the Act, or to manually pull out the exotic vegetation. Mr Crosby said the areas being sprayed were an incredibly minor part of the total coastal dunes.
