Public want a say on spray

Our story on roadside weed spraying ("Chemical warfare", April 26)  received a lot of feedback. Some readers are concerned they haven't been given the chance to make submissions on the subject because it wasn't in the Draft Long Term Plan.

Last week, Dr Meriel Watts, a scientist who provided detailed information to the city's former councils on the dangers of roadside chemical weed spraying, told The Aucklander she was alarmed to have to go through the whole process of presenting evidence against chemical spraying again, as the city decides which way to go with its spraying - using chemicals or chemical-free.

The former Auckland and North Shore cities have been largely chemical-free, using a mix of foam and hot water spray to control weeds on roadsides. They have used some spot chemical spraying in trouble areas. The other legacy councils use glyphosate (commonly known as Roundup) or other chemicals, or leave it to contractors to decide.

That it is even up for discussion 14 years after a policy was decided upon annoys Dr Watts. But weed management contracts for all the old councils are due to expire and Auckland Council may be considering one regime for the whole city, as the seven legacy councils' policies differ.

"We want the policy already developed for the legacy Auckland City Council. It's been effective for 14 years and there's no need to re-invent the wheel," Dr Watts says.

"I don't want to do this work all over again. A huge amount of council time was taken up with complaints and petitions until they developed the policy we now have."

Two years ago, she prepared information for the Weed Management Advisory group, which was formed to ensure non-chemical spraying was retained in the former North Shore and Auckland City areas, and to encourage its adoption into the rest of the super-city.

Dr Watts says she was shocked to see no mention of the issue in the Draft Long Term Plan, but ended up being able to present her information in a forum hearing attended by councillors. She says people at her table had interests ranging from forestry to bees.

"We got overwhelming support from everyone at the table. Others went further, saying Auckland Council should work with NZTA and KiwiRail to make sure no chemicals are sprayed on railway lines or motorways going through the region."

She says councillors Wayne Walker and Cathy Casey were present and receptive to what Weed Management Advisory were saying.

"It was successful in terms of the ability to talk to other people, but we couldn't talk to other councillors and still believe we should have had a full hearing."

Cathy Casey told The Aucklander she appreciated what Dr Watts was doing. "She raised a valid issue and is trying to get the subject aired ahead of any Auckland-wide policy. At the moment what we have is mix and match. My personal preference is not to have sprays if we are capable of dealing with roadside weeds without them."

The Aucklander understands that subjects covered in the DLTP hearings were ones that had a financial component to them, which is why dog fees, for example, were in there.

Auckland Transport, the division of Auckland Council responsible for roadside spraying, says a review is already underway into the practices of the previous legacy councils with roadside weed control, as well as reviewing what other organisations around the city do to manage weeds.

"From there we will be creating a policy for weed control for the region," spokesperson Sharon Hunter said.

A reader of The Aucklander says she too was annoyed to hear public submissions and hearings aren't being held on the subject. Hana B wrote on our website: "This subject matter was not raised in the Draft Plan - nor in previous plans. If the public had been alerted there is no doubt council would have been overwhelmed with submissions, as they were by those opposing the dog registration hike."

Readers who contacted us were largely in favour of chemical-free, but some said they had no problem with Roundup. Lesley Opie wrote to say chemicals, not hot water, were the best way to deal with weeds and strongly questioned any links between glyphosate use and disease.

"Don't believe everything that the anti-chemical lobby group espouse," she said. "The former North Shore City Council found the steam hot water weed machine to be ineffective and costly. It does not kill a lot of weeds and kikuyu grass - just browns them off so they regrow straight away. In my area, nut grass has established itself everywhere ... thanks to 20 years of the steam hot water machine."

Dr Watts invited Ms Opie to provide her email address so she could send her some "sound independent scientific research".

"Some people are interested in justifying their own behaviour in spraying herbicide," says Dr Watts. "It's not uncommon. People get very defensive and don't want to believe they're harming the environment, themselves or other people."

Steph McKee wrote: "To return to spraying of roadsides with glyphosate is totally backward and ignorant when the coconut oil, pine oil and hot water/steam alternatives now used in central Auckland and the North Shore are proven now to be effective and affordable."

Lynfield resident Emma Calnan wrote saying she was "really concerned" about any use of chemicals for roadside spraying.

"The public needs to be aware of the dangers and the Council needs to use the safer alternatives. I think it is appalling that chemicals are being used in certain areas of Auckland. It is totally irresponsible to put people's health at risk and unnecessary. Let's practise (for once) what we preach, about New Zealand being a 'clean and green' country."

She suggested a petition should be circulated for people to sign.

Dr Watts says any potential major change such as this should have been foreshadowed. "It's hard for people to be proactive and stop something that's not currently a problem for them. When it's on their radar screens it'll be too late."

Claire Inwood, from Piha, wrote that she was "deeply concerned" to hear Auckland Council may consider changing its roadside spraying methods. "I have friends whose health has been compromised through exposure to chemicals from roadside sprays. I would urge our council to avoid this method for the health of Aucklanders and our environment."

Auckland residents can go on a no-spray register through the Auckland Transport website. The resident is then responsible for all weed control on the berm outside their property. Ms Hunter said that option would still be available regardless of the outcome of the weed review.

"Any policy we create will [have] an opt-out for people if they don't want any form of weed spraying - whatever the composition of the spray - at all near their property, school etc. That policy is currently in place and will remain."

But one New Lynn reader, H Wiseman-Dare, says people shouldn't have to go to that trouble and Auckland Council has the opportunity now to change the process.

"For years, Auckland central has had Biosafe organic weedspray used on their streets, while just over the border in suburbs such as New Lynn we must put our names on a 'No Spray' register to avoid having toxic chemicals sprayed outside our homes. West Auckland endures constant chemical weedspraying outside homes, schools, shopping centres and in its parks. This is a chance to change the whole region to safe, non-toxic methods."

Auckland Transport says it doesn't yet know if there will be one policy or variations between areas. "That depends on the results of the review."

Read last week's story online here

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