Eco-city plan for aerial spray faulted

Spray plan has upset Bethells Beach locals. Picture / Sylvie Whinray

Bethells Beach residents are furious at plans by their so-called "eco-city" masters for an aerial spraying of herbicide over a large area of the Te Henga wetland.

More than 100 residents signed a petition on Saturday to stop Waitakere City Council's aerial spraying of the Mokoroa Arm of the wetland containing 22ha of willows.

The council has previously injected willows in the wetland with herbicide, but said the height and density of the willows in the Mokoroa Arm, and the inaccessibility of the area, made aerial spraying the most practical option.

In a letter to residents, the council said the spraying would be well away from adjoining houses and public access points and that any aerosol drift would be very localised.

But residents fear that spraying will compromise their health, particularly that of pregnant women, and are amazed by the actions of a council proud of its "eco-city" credentials.

West Aucklanders Against Aerial Spraying (Wasp) chairwoman Helen Wiseman-Dare said residents were also angry at the lack of public consultation on the proposal inviting residents to attend Saturday's open day.

She said many residents did not receive an invitation.

Marcus Rinaldi, who is leading the petition against the spraying, said he was not alerted to the council's plans until last Thursday when he received Wasp's flyer in the letterbox.

"Most people are on tap water and it could easily get into our sources. People swim in the river that feeds from the wetland - it's not a very healthy process," Mr Rinaldi said.

He said drift from the spray could be up to 3km and be easily inhaled.

"If they were so sure there would be no effect on us then they would not be talking to us, so they are aware of it themselves," said Mr Rinaldi.

He said the willows needed to be dealt with, but not in a way that would compromise the health of residents. "We want to preserve our wetland but we don't want to be poisoned. It's the Roundup [herbicide] that affects us, not the willows."

Helen Wiseman-Dare said several people who were chemically sensitive to sprays had moved to the area to get away from such things, especially after three years of aerial spraying for the painted apple moth over other areas of West Auckland.

Ms Wiseman-Dare said residents were also concerned about the effects on the area's diverse wildlife.