Pesticide Use

Register of Chemical Sensitive Residents and Organic Growers - Inclusion for 2008-2009 Register

Pesticide Use Notification

Notifications


Bush Regeneration Team - Pesticide Notification

Byron Shire Council’s bush regeneration team undertake ecological restoration work at a number of sites throughout the shire. The work is part of an ongoing programme, replacing environmental weeds with self sustaining native plant communities. The work locations, chemicals used and application methods are listed below:

Waste and Water:

  • West Byron STP, Bayshore Drive
  • Bangalow STP, Dudgeon’s Lane
  • Vallances Rd
  • Brunswick STP

Dunes:

  • Brunswick Heads Surf Life Saving Club
  • Cavanbah St
  • South Golden Beach
  • Tallow Beach
  • Seven Mile Beach

Rainforest:

  • McLeod’s Shoot, Coolamon Scenic Drive
  • Kohinur Hall, Main Arm
  • Pioneer Bridge, Wilson’s Rd
  • Huonbrook, Coopers Creek
  • Pipeclay Creek, Lagoon Rd
  • Mullumbimby Cemetery
  • Byron Cemetery
  • Heritage Park, Mullumbimby
  • Mullumbimby Recreation Club
  • Myocum Tip, Manse Rd

Chemicals used

  • Glyphosate 360g a.i/L eg. Weedmaster Duo, Roundup, Roundup Biactive
  • Metsulfuron-methyl 600g a.i/kg eg. Associate, Brush Off
  • Fluroxypyr 200ga.i/L eg. Starane 200
  • Triclopyr butoxyethyl ester 600g a.i/L eg. Garlon 600
  • Additives:
    • Wetters/spreaders/penetrants eg. Pulse, Agral, LI 700, Protech Plus, Diesel
    • Herbidye eg. Pergasol Red, Simplot Blue

Method of Application

Spot spraying, backpack, gas gun, cut-scrape & paint, scrape & paint, basal bark, drill, axe or other injection method, wipe on leaves

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Notification of Pesticide Use in Bitou Bush Control

Byron Shire Council will commence works to control bitou bush along much of the Shire’s coastline. Byron Shire contains the largest remaining Bitou Bush infestation on the NSW north coast.

Contractors will be engaged under funding from the Environmental Trust to control Bitou at eight sites - Seven Mile Beach (north), Tallow Beach south (Broken Head), Tallow Beach south (Suffolk Park), Byron Bay, South Golden Beach, New Brighton, New Brighton to South Golden Beach, and Brunswick Heads.

Notification of any works involving use of herbicides will be provided in accordance with Council’s Pesticide Notification Plan. Further information about the Bitou Bush control program may be obtained from Council’s Ecologist on 6626 7135 or Parks Manager on 6685 9301.

Contractor Location of works Purpose of application Method of application Pesticide  
Bushland Restoration Services New Brighton dunes adjacent to new Brighton village  Bitou bush control
  • scrape and paint
  • spot spray
  • stem inject
  • Glyphosate- Weedmaster
  • Metsulfuron
  • Herbidye
  • Shirwet
  • Li700
  • Protec Plus
  • Pulse
David Dreher
Bushland Regeneration Services
Brunswick Heads adjacent to surf club Bitou bush control
  • stem injection
  • spraying
  • Glyphosate  (eg Roundup , Bioactive
  • Metsulfuron Methyl (eg Brushkill
  • Surfactant eg Protec Plus
  • Marker dye eg Herbidye
Bower Bush Works South Golden Beach dune area north of community centre Bitou bush control
  • scrape and paint
  • spot spray
  • stem inject
  • Glyphosate
  • Metsulfuron
  • Starane200
  • penetrant
Envite Tallow Beach, Suffolk Park area Bitou bush control
  • powerspray
  • spot spray
  • Roundup
  • Bioactive
  • Weedmaster duo
  • Brushkill
  • Brushoff
  • Li700
  • Protec
Envite Seven Mile Beach - north Bitou bush control
  • powerspray
  • spot spray
  • Roundup
  • Bioactive
  • Weedmaster duo
  • Brushkill
  • Brushoff
  • Li700
  • Protec Plus
Envite South Golden Beach, between New Brighton and South Golden Beach Bitou bush control
  • scrape and paint
  • powerspray
  • spot spray
  • Roundup
  • Bioactive
  • Weedmaster duo
  • Brushkill
  • Brushoff
  • Li700
  • Protec Plus
Envite Cavanbah Dunes Bitou bush control
  • scrape and paint
  • spot spray
  • Roundup
  • Bioactive
  • Weedmaster duo
  • Brushkill
  • Brushoff
  • Li700
  • Protec Plus
Eco Recharge Tallow Beach, south, Broken Head area Bitou bush control
  • scrape and paint
  • spot spray
  • Weedmaster Duo
  • Protec plus
  • Herbidye
  • Brushkill
  • LI700
 

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Parks, Beaches, Cemeteries, Roads, Drains and Reserves

Byron Shire Council hereby advises residents and visitors that weed control will be conducted by service providers for spot and directed spraying as required to maintain safety and amenity throughout the Byron Shire.  This work will comply with the adopted Pesticide Notification Plan, which can be viewed on Council’s website.

Cemeteries:

Council maintained Cemeteries in Bangalow, Clunes, Byron Bay, and Mullumbimby.

Parks, Reserves and Beaches:

Parks, Reserves and Beaches within South Golden Beach, New Brighton, Ocean Shores, North Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay, Suffolk Park, Seven Mile Beach, Bangalow and Federal.

Enquiries: Gerard Roche 02 6685 9301

Roads and Drainage:

Council Controlled Road Network and Drainage Reserve Areas throughout Byron Shire.

Enquiries: Dick Irwin 02 6685 9313

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Landcare and Community Gardening Groups

Notification of Pesticide Use

Landcare, Dunecare and Rivercare groups; community gardening groups and bush regenerators undertake weed control projects throughout Byron Shire. The work is part of an ongoing programme, replacing environmental weeds with self sustaining native plant communities and controlling weeds in public gardens.

Groups/Individual bush regenerators and work locations where spot or directional weed spraying may be undertaken on Council owned or managed lands are listed below:

Name of  group or bush regenerator Location of worksite on council owned or managed land
Bangalow Land and Rivercare Paddys Creek, Byron Creek, Bangalow Pool
Bangalow Groundforce Bangalow town precinct
Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Booyong Recreation Reserve, Nobles Scrub Recreation Reserve
Suffolk Park Dunecare Dunes along Alcorn Street, Suffolk Park; Midgen Park
Green and Clean Awareness Team Main Beach and Clarkes Beach
Cavanbah Dunecare Belongil Beach and Cavanbah St Road Reserve
Brunswick Heads Dunecare Brunswick Heads dunes and Torakina Reserve
New Brighton Dunecare Dunes along The Esplanade
North Head Road, New Brighton
South Golden Beach Dunecare South Golden Beach dunes from Fern Beach Walkway to 200m south of Community Centre
Yalla-kool Landcare Yalla-kool Community Reserve
“Earlybirds”  Brunswick Valley Landcare Saltwater Creek adjacent to Mullumbimby Pool, Heritage Park, Mullumbimby
Brunswick Heads Landcare The Terrace Park, Brunswick Heads
Wendy Gibney Reserve Lagoon Drive, Myocum
Mullumbimby - Park in Casuarina Street, and planting site between Mullumbimby High and Bowls Club in riparian area
Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc Palm Park to Federation Bridge, Mullumbimby

The chemicals used by these groups at the above locations may include:

  • Glyphosate 360g a.i/L eg. Weedmaster Duo, Roundup, Roundup Biactive
  • Metsulfuron-methyl 600g a.i/kg eg Brush Off
  • Wetters/spreaders/penetrants eg. LI 700, Protech Plus
  • Herbidye eg. Pergasol Red, Simplot Blue

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pesticide?
A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances used to destroy, suppress or alter the life cycle of any pest. Plants, insects, bacteria, fungi and other organisms can be pests in certain environments. Pesticides may include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, baits and lures (eg attractants).

What is the Pesticide Notification Plan?
The Pesticides Regulation 1995 (amended December 2005), now makes it compulsory for anyone applying pesticides on Byron Shire Council owned or managed land, to give notice that they are planning to use pesticides through a notification plan. Notification is based on the principal that people have a basic right to know when pesticides are used so that they can make informed decisions about their contact with certain chemicals. Byron Shire Council adopted a Pesticide Notification Plan (PNP) on 1 March 2007. The PNP may be viewed at Council’s website. Compliance with the PNP will allow Council to continue to deal with key environmental issues such as weed invasion and pest animal control.

Who does it apply to?
Anyone using pesticides on Council land, such as, Council staff, contractors, Landcare, Dunecare, Rivercare and community gardening groups, will be required to comply with the notification requirements of the PNP.

Where does it apply?
Public places covered by the plan include, parks, garden beds, road verges, pathways and easements and natural areas, dunes, bushland, rivers and foreshores and buildings owned or managed by Council. For a full list of places, refer to the PNP on Councils website or at Council libraries.

What are the notification requirements?
Council has different requirements for spot, directed and broadscale application of pesticides. The definitions are as follows:

  • Spot and Directed Applications  -  include using a backpack or hand held applicator to deliver single sprays or a low volume in a restricted area, baits and lures. Spot and directed applications apply to weed, insect and pest animal control. Notification will be given through a statement published on Council’s website and signs must be placed at access points to the worksite on the day of application.
  • Broadscale application - this involves boom sprays, power packs and other methods that deliver high volumes over a wide area. Prior notice will be provided through Councils website and Councils block advertising in local newspapers and signs must be placed at access points to the worksite on the day of application.

How does Council protect people who are sensitive to chemicals?
Anyone applying pesticides on Council owned or managed land, will be required to check the Register of Chemical Sensitive Residents and Organic Growers. Council aims to minimise herbicide application in these locations.

How does Council protect people in schools and hospitals and similar sensitive places?
If broadscale application of pesticides are to occur adjacent to a “Sensitive Place”, then prior notification must be given. The Pesticide Regulation 1995, defines a Sensitive place as a;

  • School or pre-school
  • Kindergarten
  • Childcare centre
  • Hospital
  • Community health centre
  • Nursing home 

Council aims to minimise herbicide application in these locations and encourages the use of low pressure systems where practical.

Who can I talk to about the Pesticide Notification Plan?
If you have any further questions about the PNP, contact Parks Manager on 6685 9301.

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