Sent: Monday, 13 January 2020 1:35 pm
Subject: LGOIMA request - herbicides
I refer to your email of 20 December 2019 regarding the use of herbicides and respond below as per your email:
1. What guidelines does the Council use for the application of glyphosate-based herbicide (eg Roundup products) on Council owned land, by both council staff and contractors?
Rotorua Lakes Council uses glyphosate-based agrichemicals for weed control along roadsides and in parks and reserves.
In terms of use, we take guidance from the regional council and the Environmental Protection Authority, which regulates use of these types of substances in New Zealand. Products we use are currently considered the most efficient and cost-effective for weed management.
Council is required under Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Regional Pest Management Plan and the Waikato Regional Council's Pest Management Plan to control pest weeds and uses products approved for use by the regional council, and by the Environmental Protection Authority which regulates the use of such substances.
There are several factors that need to be balanced - council's responsibility for providing a service - in this case weed control - the effectiveness, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of providing that service and public health and environmental impact. Spraying has, to now, been considered more effective than other options, including manual methods such as mowing.
Council's transport division uses glyphosate-based products along roadsides, spraying a 2m strip in rural areas to control vegetation for road safety purposes, kerbing and channelling and small areas around the likes of road signs. Roadsides in the lakes areas are not verge sprayed - they are mowed only.
Infracore (Council's parks and reserves maintenance CCO) uses glyphosate-based agrichemicals along and around fence-lines, retaining walls, bollards, hard surface edges and structures in parks and reserves. Spray cycles are carried out three to four times a year to maintain effective control.
In addition to edge spraying Council uses glyphosate to mark sports field lines at the beginning of the season for each sporting code (timing varies from code to code). Most line marking is done for winter sport. Council has reduced the number of fields it uses glyphosate on as part of the new maintenance contract currently under negotiation.
All staff who apply these products are required to be trained and certified in its use and must follow strict handling and application guidelines.
2. Does the Council limit the use of glyphosate in areas that children play?
Glyphosate based products are not used in or directly around playground areas.
3. Has Council formally considered a spray-free streets and parks policy in the last 5 years? If so, what was considered and what decision was made?
Infracore has trialled a steam system however this require capital investment for the equipment, takes longer to apply and requires more frequent applications. This system has not been implemented.
4. Does the Council use steam weeding, hot water/foam, 'natural' spray products, and/or mechanical alternatives to glyphosate-based herbicides, and if so what percentage of weed control by each of the alternatives is used?
Council does not currently use steam or foam weed control in its day to weed control operations. We do however use mechanical methods around playgrounds and in our CBD parks/gardens and in the Government Gardens. We also use natural sprays around fruit trees in reserves.
5. Does the Council or its contractors have the equipment to carry out steam, hot water/foam weeding? What is owned by Council and what by its contractors?
As per No.3 Infracore has trialled a steam system however this require capital investment for the equipment, takes longer to apply and requires more frequent applications. This system has not been implemented.
6. Does Council keep records of pesticides including herbicide volumes used annually, if so could these be supplied. If more comprehensive records are not maintained, what quantity of glyphosate-based herbicides does the Council and its contractors use each year on Council owned land?
