Title: Call goes out for non-toxic weed control in New Zealand
[Aukland Now 18 April 2012 by George Gardener] -- NZ: Dr Meriel Watts is urging all local boards to push for the adoption of the chemical-free weed management policy that Waiheke already uses. The need to introduce non-chemical weed management methods right around the region is being pushed by one submitter to the draft Auckland Council Long Term Plan. Scientist Dr Meriel Watts is urging all local boards to recommend that the still functioning Auckland City Council weed control policy be adopted across the whole region now governed by the super-city. The policy has been in place since 1998 and encourages the use of non-chemical methods for controlling weeds on roadsides with minimal impact to humans and the environment. A non-toxic coconut oil derivative has been used for nearly 14 years to manage roadside weeds on Waiheke Island. Other areas have used pine oil. Now under the new super-city, Dr Watts is pushing for the former Auckland City Council policy to be adopted to ensure no chemical-based weed control options become the norm. If another council's legacy policy were to be adopted, Waiheke could face chemical weed management on its roadsides. [Photo: Dr Meriel Watts is urging all local boards to push for the adoption of the chemical-free weed management policy that Waiheke already uses.]
Dr Watts, representing the Weed Management Advisory group, made a verbal submission to members of the Waiheke Local Board and councillor Mike Lee at the draft Auckland Council Long Term Plan hearings last week. She says independent scientific studies show that glyphosate – a broad-spectrum chemical herbicide – destablises the environment. "You get a destabilised aquatic community at every micro-level which can lead, among other things, to algal blooms. "When it's used on the hard edges on roads and washes down stormwater drains it's a real problem."
Dr Watts says scientists have concluded the inhalation of glyphosate leads to damaged DNA and cancers like leukaemia and prostate cancer, as well as Parkinson's disease.
"There are a range of non-chemical alternatives. "The North Shore has been using the hot steam process and they've found it effective. The coconut derivative used on Waiheke has got a rancid oil smell but it's non-toxic."
Local board chairwoman Faye Storer says it would be a "terrible step back" if the existing weed policy was given up. "The 1998 Auckland City Council policy was the first in the country from a local government sector that really looked at weed control in a comprehensive and long-term manner. "I was there. It's a very sound policy. It was largely built on the principles of the Waiheke weed policy from the early 90s."
Dr Watts hopes to attend as many local board hearings as possible to get her message across.
"There's no need to re-invent the wheel. We've researched all the legacy policies. We simply want local boards to ask Auckland Council to adopt the legacy Auckland City policy across the region."
