It has now been clearly established internationally that Roundup, containing glyphosate, is a probable human carcinogen.
Unfortunately, the Auckland Council has either not heard of this announcement, or is ignoring it, risking the health and wellbeing of its citizens. However, there has been progress, although slow.
Waitemata Local Board Chair, Pippa Coom, promised me the latest information on council contractor Ventia’s progress at reducing the use of Roundup from our parks and reserves.
Waitemata Local Board has written into its plans a policy to minimise the use of agrichemicals, of which Roundup is one of the most toxic and poisonous, by using more mechanical means for weed removal.
I have personally spoken to several Ventia employees working at local parks and reserves who told me they have cut right back on glyphosate use.
A report I received on 19 March from Auckland Council says in part, “Since July 2017 we have seen a reduction in the use of agrichemical by Auckland Council contractors. The council has moved from chemical to mechanical edging on vegetation that is encroaching pathways in local parks.
“As per Auckland Council’s Weed Management Policy, we are committed to minimising our use of agrichemicals,” they said. But one old and one new problem now exist.
The old one is that KPIs for Ventia will not produce actual quantities of glyphosate used, nor quantify the actual reductions until July 2018, when the protocol has been in place for a year. Excuse me if this sounds like delay, obfuscation, or downright refusal to accept the real dangers of glyphosate to the citizens of Auckland, including kids who romp around in our city parks and reserves.
But it does represent progress, and I thank Pippa Coom for finding the report for me.
The new problem seems to be that not enough mechanical weeding is taking place, and footpaths and fringes around parks and reserves are looking pretty tatty.
The only other issue is what happens next. My understanding is that Auckland Transport will hand back berm and street maintenance to Council Parks and Reserves. I had thought this was for 1 July, but Pippa Coom now says it is likely to be 1 October.
I have not been able to establish whether AT will have any on-going role in weed management in Waitemata Ward. It is rumoured they will still be responsible for maintaining hard surfaces in the central city, presumably spraying glyphosate.
If the Waitemata Local Board can get clear, quantity KPIs in place with Ventia, which will measure usage year on year, we will be able to clearly see whether use of this poisonous agrichemical is actually being fazed out.
(JOHN ELLIOTT)