By JONATHON HOWARD
DEBATE around the use of Roundup to kill grass near Lake Weyba has divided many residents and raised fresh concerns for bees.
Concerns were raised last week over the use of the council’s herbicide “Roundup”, which contains the active ingredient glyphosate.
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses.
Mayor Noel Playford voiced his support for council’s spraying program and cited several benefits including cost to ratepayers and its effectiveness in combating invasive grasses.
He said he could understand some residents were concerned with the use of chemical sprays near waterways.
“However, the correct concentrations of the herbicide glyphosate were not proven to be harmful,” he said.
“Until evidence emerges that there’s a risk using the herbicide, it will continue.”
Mayor Playford also defended council employee’s spraying techniques, which several residents’ claimed was “haphazard” along the lake’s edge.
“There is comprehensive training for council employees to recognise and combat invasive grasses,” he said.
“There’s also cost to consider – spraying is a lot cheaper and more effective than slashing which would need to be done more frequently and at greater cost to ratepayers.”
Noosa resident Kerry Sandford, who holds a Bachelors Degree in Agricultural Science, said the claims against the use of Roundup were “outrageous”.
“It is unbelievable that the “resident who did not want to be named” made outrageous claims with no scientific basis about Roundup (glyphosate),” she said.
“The active ingredient of “Agent Orange” was 2.4.5T which was manufactured by Dow, Monsanto and ICI and has nothing to do with Roundup.
“The claims made by the same resident about Roundup’s link with autism, cancer etc have no scientific basis and are scare mongering at best.”
However, several other residents disputed the “safe Roundup” claim and said it killed hundreds of native bees and other vital insects.
“I totally agree with no spraying,” Barb Partridge, a Noosa resident, said.
“We do know that since spraying is being used freely, our bees and good insects are disappearing, let alone the impact on the waterways – stop the spraying.”
To spray or not to spray – give us your thoughts by emailing newsdesk@noosatoday.net.au
