My Account
Auckland Council took over the management of weeds on roadsides from Auckland Transport (AT) on April 1 but at this stage little will change.
Cr John Watson says that initially council will continue using the same method of weed control as AT, which locally means the use of the chemical Roundup/glyphosate.
After a year, Council will begin a regional review of vegetation management within the road corridor, which will include consultation with elected members and contractors.
Cr Watson says the Hibiscus Coast has been one of the most active communities in Auckland opposing the use of chemical methods of weed control and that the power to bring about that change rests with local boards.
“Elsewhere proactive local boards are already going chemical free either by financing the cost themselves or opting to cut chemical application where it’s not needed,” he says. “It would be great to see chemical-free contractors quote on both the road corridor and parks on the Coast. These companies have said they can match the price for chemical methods. People can also lobby the local board to make their playgrounds totally chemical free (currently pathways, seats and play areas in playgrounds are spray free but not the surrounding areas) and push for hot water methods to be used in the road corridor in future.”
Weed management in parks and reserves is controlled by the local board, which contracts Ventia for the work. A key performance indicator in that contract for the local area is to reduce chemical use.
Local board chair Julia Parfitt says that Ventia advises it is using more mechanical weeding and “a lot less glyphosate” but that the local board has seen no exact figures or details to back that up as yet.
