Hamilton residents should be concerned at spraying blunder

Green Party Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley said Hamilton residents should be very concerned at a Council blunder which saw up to 30,000 flowers in the city accidentally sprayed with herbicide.

Ms Kedgley said residents who live or work in the city should be concerned about being exposed to residues of herbicide or pesticide chemicals - used either intentionally or unintentionally - when there were non-toxic alternatives to chemical spraying which were just as effective and a whole lot safer.

"I am astonished that the Hamilton Council uses herbicide chemicals in the city in the first place, and even more concerned at the Council's lack of quality control over these toxic substances," said Ms Kedgley.

The World Health Organisation and other international bodies acknowledge that pesticides can cause a range of adverse health effects including immune system damage, cancer, reproductive damage, she pointed out.

"Has the Council investigated non-toxic methods of weed control such as the Waipuna hot water treatment system which is available to remove roadside weeds?" she asked. "I urge the Hamilton Council to investigate alternatives to herbicides - especially in the city where people socialise, live and work."

Ms Kedgley said residents should register their disapproval with the Council over their use of herbicides in the strongest possible terms and urge Council to safeguard resident's health by switching to safer control systems.

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Sue Kedgley MP: 04 470 6728, 025 270 9088

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