By David Kavanagh | posted on June 23, 2019
DENMARK residents who do not want their verges sprayed with chemical herbicides will continue to be required to register their properties with the Shire after councillors voted against
switching to an opt-in scheme.
A report detailing the Shire’s weed management practices was presented to Council for Tuesday’s ordinary meeting and recommended the current No Spray Policy be extended.
This comes two months after former dairy farmer Annie Nutter submitted a petition with 600 signatures to the Shire calling for the implementation of an opt-in program.
“[The opt-out policy] didn’t seem to be working very well. Several people who were on the opt-out register got their verges sprayed anyway,” she told the Weekender at the time (‘Council gets a spray’, 2 May).
The report was prepared by Shire Director of Assets and Sustainable Development David King and acknowledged instances of properties on the No Spray Register having their verges
sprayed.
Despite this the report stated “an opt-in concept poses a significant risk to the Shire” as it could result in “a significant quantity of road verges being unmaintained”.
It noted new systems would seek to “reduce human error” in 2019 and 2020.
Councillor Kingsley Gibson moved the motion to extend the opt-out scheme and it was passed unanimously.
Councillors also unanimously passed a motion supporting the continued trial of alternative methods to glyphosate in high use public areas including Berridge Park, Norm Thornton Park and Kwoorabup Park.
“Over the next few weeks we will be trialling steam weeding to see its cost and environmental effectiveness,” Mr King said.
Mr King acknowledged in his report that the population and environment should be better protected through the limitation of glyphosate use.
He noted a legal case launched in Melbourne last month mirrored high profile court cases against chemical companies in the United States that linked cancer to the use of the chemical herbicide.
Glyphosate will continue to be used in road verge treatments.
Councillor Jan Lewis moved an amended motion calling for a review of the Weeds Strategy in the Corporate Business Planning Review.
“The current plan is out of date with our current sustainable practices,” she said.
