MEETING OF COUNCIL - Town of Cambridge

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COUNCIL MINUTESTUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2013• Trip hazards along paths which would be a particular hazard for elderly residents andjoggers;• Obscuring kerblines from motorists;• Damage to the infrastructure such as cracked bitumen and footpaths reducing thelifespan of the asset and increasing maintenance costs;The Town ensures that the use of herbicides for weed control is in accordance with theproduct instructions, the Material Safety Data Sheets and the Health (Pesticides)Regulations 2011. Weed control practices are regularly monitored to ensure the highestpossible standards are maintained. The Town also has a practice in place wherebyresidents can have a spraying exemption for the kerb/footpath area adjacent to theirproperties.Question 4Has the Council or the Health Department done a cost benefit analysis? In other words,the claim that using herbicides and pesticides is "the cheapest option" to the communityneeds to be substantiated as I believe that the cost to community health and environmenthas never been considered. If not, why not? If yes, please explain.ResponseThere are three known methods of weed control:-Chemical Spray:This is the current method of weed control, outside the 300m radius exclusion zonesurrounding Mrs Hondros' residence. The annual expenditure is around $45,000. Thismethod is considered the most effective control of weeds as it kills the undergroundstems of weeds and controls tripping hazards.Heated Water:This is the method of weed control within the existing exclusion zone surrounding MrsHondros' residence. The cost to undertake weed control using heated water to the samestandard for the whole of the Town, to that which is currently achieved through chemicalcontrol, is estimated to be $150,000 and would require up to 6 applications per year. Thismethod of weed control will not control underground weed stems such as couch and willnot achieve the same standard as chemical control.Mechanical Means:The cost to undertake weed control using mechanical means (whipper snippers) to thesame standard for the whole of the Town, to that which is currently achieved throughchemical control, is estimated to be $500,000. This method of weed control will notcontrol underground weed stems such as couch and will not achieve the same standardas chemical control. Using whipper snippers along paths and kerbing is not desirable asthere is the possibility of small stones to be flicked on to resident property, pedestriansand passing vehicles.The Town currently controls weeds using chemicals as it provides the most effective andsafest weed control out of all the three methods mentioned above.Question 5Council's current spray contractor "Turfmaster", has a well publicized dubious history ofinappropriate use of herbicides eg. Huge loss of trees in City of Stirling, spraying atinappropriate times e.g. spraying The Esplanade for Perth City Council in the middle ofthe day while people are walking, lying on grass etc with industrial booms.H:\Ceo\Gov\Council Minutes for Web Site\2013\February 2013\A Council Front.docx 3
COUNCIL MINUTESTUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2013Has Council or the Health Department or anyone else, done any spot testing of chemicalsused by this contractor to ensure that he is using what he claims he is, at the rightconcentrations etc. If not, why not. If yes, please explain.ResponseThe Town's contractor is required to use Pesticides in accordance with the requirementsof the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 2011 and associated guidelines. This means thatthey must use registered pesticides in accordance with the Regulations. On eachoccasion the contractor is engaged by the Town, the proposed spraying program of spraylocations and chemical concentration use is agreed.Question 6In his email Mr Ross Farlekas says "the recent changes to the legislation have notimpacted greatly on Town of Cambridge because we already have in place good publicnotification and customer service".Do you Cambridge Council or the Health Department really believe that you are acting ingood faith with good customer services by spraying poisons on public land in view of thefact that I and many others (100 on your no spray register) and many more not on theregister, have been badly affected and continue to be subjected to unsolicitedexposures? Yes, No? Please explain.ResponseThe Council has previously demonstrated that weed control within the Town isundertaken in a safe and responsible manner (Council report TS03.54 May 2003) and inaccordance with the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 2011 and associated guidelines.Since 2004 the Town has been undertaking weed control throughout the Town in closeconsultation with Mr and Mrs Hondros.Question 7Knowing that there are "no airborne exposure limits to this product" (see Materials SafetyData Sheet), do you accept that by spraying you are forcing me out of my home as 300metres exclusion zone is totally inadequate. Yes or No (question for both Council andHealth Department).ResponseThe Administration is constantly communicating with Mrs Hondros regarding up comingweed control programs. Mrs Hondros has advised that she needs to know thisinformation so that she can make plans to leave the area. The Town has neverrequested Mrs Hondros to leave her house in Salvado Road.Question 8By what scientific reasoning did Council and Health Department come to the conclusionthat 300 metres is a safe distance to be from a chemical spray that says "there are noairborne exposure limits to this product?" Who made this decision? Was this person ascientist, Health Department Officer, Doctor, Gardener, Office Worker? How was itestablished that 300 metres is a safe distance for airborne exposures?H:\Ceo\Gov\Council Minutes for Web Site\2013\February 2013\A Council Front.docx 4
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MEETING OF COUNCIL - Town of Cambridge

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