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A group of Millwater mothers including, from left, Ingrid Milnes, Jennie Ready and Shona Roberts, approached Auckland Cr John Watson, centre, for help in fighting Roundup use. Maria Molchanova is concerned by the use of Roundup near the park, where her 15-month-old son regularly plays. “I think most people would rather have the weeds than the poison,” she says.
Shona Roberts was shocked to see a sign at the entrance to her local playground warning that chemical spraying was in progress.She says the warning made her reluctant to bring her five year old to play at the little park, in Botanical Drive, Millwater. She is also concerned about spray drift, as she lives close by.
“There was no way of knowing exactly where the spray was applied, but when I called, Council said it would be Roundup that they were spraying,” Shona says. “It was a windy day, so it could have gone anywhere. We’re being treated as guinea pigs – this is not safe to use near parks.”
Other Millwater parents agree with some choosing to stay away from what has been a very well used playground and asking why hot water and weedeaters cannot be used for weed control instead.
Ingrid Milnes brings her one-year-old twins to the park every day. She has a strong aversion to the use of toxins and is angry that her children could be exposed in what should be a safe environment.
“I avoid the use of anything toxic at home. My children are at the age where they put everything in their mouths. It’s not okay for Council to be doing this.”
Members of the ‘Millwater Families, Silverdale’ Facebook page are preparing for a fight, as opposition among the community grows.
Joining their ranks is the owner of Plum Tree Preschool, Jenni Cook. Plum Tree is located next to the playground and Jenni says spray drift is a real concern.
“There is no time of day when spraying chemicals around here would be appropriate,” she says. She found out about the spraying from Hibiscus Matters and is concerned that no one from Council let her know.
Cr John Watson says he encourages anyone concerned about the use of Roundup in parks, which began on the Hibiscus Coast two months ago, to be assertive about keeping their parks chemical free.
He suggests one option might be for locals to volunteer to maintain playgrounds themselves. “The strength of feeling is such that residents may consider that,” he says.
Auckland Council replaced the use of weedeaters to maintain edges in its parks and reserves with Roundup/glyphosate, a probable carcinogen, as a cost saving measure.
Cr Watson says while the policy is not to spray children’s playgrounds directly, the surrounding areas, including paths and around trees can, and are, being sprayed quite aggressively.
