LGOIMA Request Details: LG1897

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?

All safety standards are to be met based on the Safety Materiel Data Sheet, SMDS

2.    Does the Council limit the use of glyphosate in areas that children play?
Yes, playgrounds are only sprayed when needed, generally playgrounds are weeded using hand removal by playground maintenance contractor. 

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?
Not formally considered spray free streets or parks.
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?
No area is controlled using steam or hot water spray products.

 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?

Our Open spaces contractor (Recreational Services Ltd) has units in other districts of the country that it has contracts that requiring the usage of steam or hot water control methods. Council does not own any machinery.
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?

Council doesn't keep records of quantities of herbicide used but the contractors do have a rough idea of how much is used. Approx 2000 L was used on all road sides and road side drains across the district. Approx 350 L was used in Recreation Spaces
7.    Does Council differentiate vegetation control methods between areas open to the public and other Council owned land?
Yes we differentiate vegetation control methods based on risk factors and expected levels of service. 
8.    Does Council use glyphosate-based herbicides for aquatic and surrounds vegetation control? What other herbicides are used in aquatic and surrounds vegetation control?

When working near aquatic areas a herbicide sticker is included in the mix, this improved the adhesion of chemical to the plant.
9.    What monitoring of herbicides residues is undertaken by Council or other agencies in public residential areas, aquifers, drinking-water source points and water supplies controlled by Council? Please supply results of all such monitoring.

We don't test for herbicides specifically. However, every year we do take a sample from each of our bores and have it analysed for an array of parameters including metals. Given that a lot of herbicides have copper this could be detected as a result of this sampling.