Glyphosate endorsed for use in low-risk, low traffic areas of Kingston
Kingston Council has endorsed the selective use of Glyphosate for weed control in low-risk, low traffic locations across Kingston.
Hand weeding and steam weed control will continue to be used at playgrounds, childcare centres, preschools and maternal child health centres and high use open space areas.
Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said Council understood community concern about the use of Glyphosate and wanted to assure residents that a risk assessment and evaluation would be undertaken at each site to determine the most appropriate weed management approach.
“Our decision to reintroduce the use of Glyphosate-based products in selected low-risk areas is based on current guidance from world health and research institutions that advise products containing Glyphosate can continue to be used safely in accordance with directions in the Safety Data Sheet and labels,” Cr Staikos said.
All Council staff and contractors applying the products will be appropriately trained and have the required Personal Protective Equipment.
“We have been trialling the use of other weed management methods over the past few years but unfortunately they just haven’t been as effective. We have received many complaints from community members about the ineffective weed management in our open spaces,” said Cr Staikos.
Kingston Council, along with other Victorian councils, was involved in a weed control research project undertaken by Deakin University on behalf of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV). The research investigated availability, ease of use, cost, any known off-target toxic effects, and known hazards for use, storage and negative environmental impacts of a range of weed control chemicals.
The report concluded that “based on the results of field trials, and taking into consideration cost, safety information and off-target impacts, glyphosate is considered to be the most effective weed management strategy”.
“Although we will now be using Glyphosate at selected low-risk locations, we are also continuing widespread use of other weed management methods,” said Cr Staikos. “For example, Council has just commenced a new weed steaming contract to treat 7.4 hectares of garden beds and paths across 12 parks and reserves.”
“We understand how important safe, high-quality open spaces are to our community, and reintroducing Glyphosate at select locations will allow us to deliver this for our residents and the many visitors who come to enjoy Kingston’s foreshore, parks and reserves.”
