There are number of issues of Community concern with regard to Kingborough Council’s No Spray Policy. These issues include issues of:
Equity – A letter regarding changes to Council’s No Spray Policy was sent to rate payers who had previously been on the no spray register. In the letter Council stated that there was “no automatic transfer of existing property frontages to the new register”. Kingborough Council covers urban, peri-urban and rural areas and spraying is undertaken in all areas along with roadside slashing. Council has a responsibility to ALL of their rate payers to inform them via letter of the new No Spray Policy and provide them with the opportunity to register.
Sustainability – Kingborough Council has in the past shown leadership in addressing issues such as sustainability, natural resource management, and climate change. There are many properties in the Municipality that produce acclaimed produce (Miellerie Honey (Vogue Entertainment & Travel produce Award 2008; Kelty Farm, Woodbridge Smoke House; Bronzewing Herbal Teas, Diemen Pepper, Grandvewe Cheese, Bruny Island Cheese to name a few). There are other properties that use organic, biodynamic and permaculture methods for food production which supports local sustainability initiatives and thriving local economies such as Sustainable Living in Kingborough and Channel Living. Many of these producers are not certified as either organic or biodynamic as their production levels are not great enough to make certification financially viable and the process of certification takes a minimum of three years. The new Kingborough Council “No Spray Policy” precludes these people from being included on the No Spray register as the No Spray Applications states “you are required to supply evidence to support {their claim}’.
Human and Ecosystem Health – There are over 77,000 scientific, medical, health, ecological journal articles that have been published on the impact of herbicides, fungicides and pesticides on people and ecosystems. 90% of these have been published since 2000. This provides compelling evidence as to ecological and health impacts of the use of such chemicals. Council currently undertakes both slashing and spraying effectively doing the same job twice at great expenses to rate payers.
Bees – There are several professional (Miellerie Honey, Not Tonight Honey, Williams Honey, Golden Pearl, Maktub Farm Honey) and recreation bee keepers living in the Kingborough Municipality. There is a growing body of research that demonstrates the world wild collapse of bee colonies is as a result of the indiscriminate use of herbicides and pesticides. The fruit (cherries, apples, pears) and berry fruits (black and red currants, blue berries, raspberries . . .) orchards of the Channel rely on bees for pollination. The economic value of pollination services to Tasmanian agricultural and horticultural production by bees was in 2001 estimated to be 188 million dollars. (Miller, DPIWE, 2001).
Conscientious Objection – the new Kingborough Council “No Spray Policy” has no provisions to conscientious objection for those rate payer who object to the use of chemical sprays.
We petition the Council in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993 to:
1. as matter of equity send a letter to ALL ratepayers/property owners that accompanies their next rate notice to inform them of how to register on the No Spray register.
2. allows non-certified organic, bio-dynamic, permaculture properties to be able to be registers on the No Spray register.
3. investigated alternative’s to chemical spraying such as establishing shared resources with Hobart City Council to use their hot steam process for weed management.
4. undertake a review of the scientific and medical literature on the implications of chemical sprays on human health and ecosystems and investigate and trial alternative’s to chemical spraying in the Municipality.
5. amend the No Spray Policy to provide for those people that have a conscientious objection to the use of chemical sprays.
6. amend the No Spray Policy to allow for “opt-in” NOT “opt-out” of road side spraying
7. Report on the progress towards these requests by-monthly at Council meetings on 22 September 2014 and 24 November 2014 and publish updates on the Kingborough Council Website and in the Kingborough Chronicles.
It’s in the best interest of Council to act on this petition. It makes economic sense to review the No Spray Policy in line with current National and International research on the ecological and health impacts of the use of chemical sprays. There are financial opportunities to be gained by Council through the expansion of resource sharing opportunities with adjoining Council’s. The Channel Region has a growing reputation in the food and wine industry (honey, apple and pear, cherries, berry fruits, wine, cheese, organic meat) which relies so heavily on bees for pollination. Council has an opportunity to lead the way with alternative management regimes or road side weeds.
We have had over 200 people sign the petition. The majority of which are from the Kingborough Municipality, due to a technical hitch with the Change.org website there are a number of people from outside of the Municipality that have also signed the petition. This is testament to the very real and scientifically supported concerns of people beyond the municipality about the use of chemicals and their impact of ecosystem and human health. In the last six months there have been two rallies in Hobart attracting over 500 people expressing their concerns about the indiscriminate use of chemical herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and biocides.
Council really need to listen and act on theses concern. The real test will be to see what action comes out of the petition and if the Council is willing to be bold and show leadership and look at alternatives to chemical spraying.
Christine Materia
