By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Greater Dandenong staff have been “caught out” flouting a council directive not to spray Roundup weed-killer near a playground and a school yard in Noble Park North.
But the council insists that staff are following the rules.
Councillors Peter Brown and Maria Sampey told a council meeting they witnessed the council’s parks and gardens staff spraying the glyphosate-based herbicide during a recent visit to WJ Turner Reserve.
“You have caught us out,” one of the staff allegedly told Cr Brown.
The councilors say the weedkiller was being used around the reserve’s playground, against council policy to not use it at any of its children’s play areas.
“When questioned, one of the staff said it was OK because students were on holidays,” Cr Brown said.
Council staff had apparently sprayed the reserve’s adjoining boundary with Silverton Primary School, he said.
The school’s passionfruit vine along the perimeter was showing signs of dying off. Its vegetable garden and chicken enclosure were also in the vicinity, Cr Brown said.
“I’m confident that independent testing of the soil (at the school) would find Roundup.”
Cr Sampey said she was told by a “horrified” school administrator that “the Education Department has banned the use of Roundup because it’s dangerous and schools therefore don’t use Roundup anymore.”
It was the second time Cr Sampey says she discovered Roundup spray at council playgrounds in recent months.
“Obviously it seems to me that maybe managers are telling their staff to use Roundup but just don’t get caught.”
Greater Dandenong engineering director Paul Kearsley said spraying of glyphosate-based herbicides did not occur on soft-fall areas of council playgrounds.
It was however allowed along reserve fence lines and playground edging, he said.
“The playground soft fall areas are weeded by hand in order to allay any fears people may have about the use of chemicals.”
Mr Kearsley said a direction to staff was given not to spray near the school fence lines in early January.
“Any impact on these fence lines with dead growth could be related to when the spraying was taking place prior to that time.
“There is now a review of all reserves underway which are adjacent to schools to ensure that we are consistent with our approach to spraying sensitive boundaries.”
There is conjecture on Roundup’s links to cancer, with the State Government launching a review into the impact of glyphosate.
Mr Kearsley said the council kept abreast of advice from peak bodies such as Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority and WorkSafe Victoria.
“Both advise that glyphosate is safe to use in accordance with the material safety sheets and label instructions.”
