Environment organisations and spraying poisons - a total contradiction!
By Malcolm Campbell
Issue of The Informer 31st October features the poor state of the water in the lakes at Cooks Beach. The Council has been using Diquat for 20 years to clear the weeds. It has been established that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the height of stupidity and after 20 years, some sane person should have worked out that the Diquat was useless. The report also indicates that Diquat is approved by NIWA. Reglone or Diquat was banned in the European Union in 2019 because of danger to ‘human health’ and serious dangers to the ‘Aquatic environment’, yet NIWA are not alone. LINZ use the poison in Lake Karapiro!
All of these problems are well documented on the Internet. Type in the name of the product and look for warnings about the use of the product. Here are some of the details:
Haloxyfop - very toxic to the aquatic organisms with long lasting effects. Avoid contamination of any water supply. Crest 520 must not be applied into or onto water. Toxic to terrestrial vertebrates. Do not plant cereals, maize or grass crops within 3 months of application. Repeated exposure may cause organ damage.
Triclopyr - very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Reglone or Diquat take your pick - very toxic to aquatic life, causes skin irritation, toxic if inhaled, swallowed, or if absorbed through the skin.
Tordon - very toxic to aquatic life, very toxic to the soil environment. Harmful to terrestrial vertebrates.
Methyl-sulfuron-methyl - very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. Can cause serious eye irritation.
Unimaz or Imazapyr, take your pick - prevent entry into waterways, drains, or sewers; harmful to aquatic organisms.
Garlon - can cause kidney damage and serious eye irritation and again very toxic to aquatic life. When using this product wear full body chemical resistant clothing including face shield. These names can be very confusing unless the users are familiar with the product, because some are chemical names and some are Trade Names.
Glyphosate or Roundup - one widely available type is Crucial. In New Zealand the jury is still out on Glyphosate and with Waikato Regional Council, the use is approved under Resource Consent 124871. Warnings about glyphosate are less severe until the fine print is studied. Long term exposure is damaging to earthworms, very damaging to bees, disrupts their navigation ability, disrupts their breeding and makes them more vulnerable to disease. The whole ecological system can be affected. Glyphosate has been banned in 28 countries around the world and partially banned in others. It is also under review in New Zealand as ‘new’ evidence emerges. ‘The Waikato Regional Council’ is also known as ‘Environment Waikato’ implying that it is a custodian of the environment. However, this cannot be correct as the main target of their actions are the drains, canals, streams, rivers and lakes using chemicals that are clearly labelled herbicides warning that they are not to be used in on or over waterways. Herbicide is an interesting word, finishing in the latin word ‘cide, translated meaning ‘killer’ or the act of ‘killing’.
Excerpt from a WRC published notice
Waikato Regional Council advises that herbicide may be used public and coastal reserves throughout the Waikato region from now until July 2024 for the control of exotic weeds as part of the Coastcare
restoration programme
This includes (but is not limited to) the Whiritoa area.
The work will be carried out by contractors in accordance with the Waikato Regional Plan. Aspray plan is available on request.
Herbicides which may be used, and their HSNO classes, include (but are not limited to):
• Associate 600WDG: 6.3B, 6.4A, 9.1A, 9.2A
• Conquest/Tordon Brushkiller: 3.1D, 6.1D, 6.3B, 6.4A,6.5B, 6.9B, 9.1A, 9.2A, 9.3C
• Dicamba500SL: 6.1E, 6.3A, 6.4A, 6.9B, 9.1A, 9.2A, 9.3B, 9.4B • Garlon 360: 3.1C, 8.1A, 6.1D, 8.3A, 6.5B, 6.9B, 9.1A, 9.2A, 9.3C • Glyphosate 360/Weedmaster G360: 6.1D, 6.4A, 9.1B
• Grazon: 6.1D, 6.3B, 6.4A, 6.5B, 6.9B, 9.1A, 9.2A, 9.3€
• GreenGlyphosate: 6.3A, 6.4A, 9.1B, 9.1D
• Haloxyfop 100: 6.1E, 6.4A, 6.9B, 9.1B, 9.1D
• Vigilant I: 6.5B, 6.9B
• X-Tree Wet &Dry: 6.1€, 6.4A, 6.5B, 6.9B, 9.1A, 9.2A
For more information, please call Andrew Anderson on 0800 800 401
'Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the Hauraki District Council Drainage Bylaw Clause 10.1, that Council's annual drain maintenance programme will operate from November 2023 to June 2024. During this time Council staff and contractors will be entering onto private property to spray aquatic weeds by y vehicle or helicopter using an approved weed control chemical or to clear drains using an excavator.'