THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 30 #23 Wednesday, November 18, 2015
www.echo.net.au Phone 02 6684 1777 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au 23,200 copies CAB AUDIT
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Feeling enraged? Gough wouldn’t mind an outburst on his behalf – p10
Councils warned over Roundup Hans Lovejoy
Recent findings by the World Health Organisation (WHO) into the key ingredient in the world’s top-selling weed killer, Roundup, have been supported by NSW councils’ insurer. It’s prompted calls for risk assessment reviews and a ‘cautious approach’ to its use by the state’s local governments.
Probably carcinogenic StateCover, who are ‘Local Government’s Workers Compensation Insurer’ says ‘that formulations containing glyphosate, including Roundup and other similar products, were assessed as “probably carcinogenic to humans”, according to a WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report.’ Roundup is the flagship product of controversial US corporation Monsanto, who also produce genetically modified foods and ‘terminator’ seeds. The company has a long history of attempting to control the global food market through patent laws. Yet the chemical is still to be treated with the same caution by other regulators. The StateCover internal memo to councils says WHO’s findings ‘contrasts with information included in existing safety data sheets, which indicate the relative safety of the chemical.’ ‘Australian regulators, including Safe Work Australia and WorkCover NSW, have not provided advice or direction relating to the use of glyphosate at this time. However,
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given this new information, it is recommended that councils take a cautious approach and investigate their use of glyphosate and other hazardous chemicals used for weed control.’ The position taken has been welcomed by Nadia de Souza Pietramale from Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare. She told The Echo, ‘It is great to see a drop of accountability.’ ‘Council and other local and state government agencies such as RTA, NPWS, Crown Lands etc are still using it in drains, creek lines, dunes, etc. Also there is zero regulation with regard to local residents spraying it with no sign or safety gear [required on the] public footpath or public land adjacent to the front of their property.’ The Echo asked Byron Shire Council if it has responded to StateCover’s advice and assessed its current weed-control chemicals. Council’s infrastructure services director Phil Holloway replied that Council maintains ‘Safe Working Method Statements’ for herbicides employed by staff. ‘These are updated as advice is received from StateCover,’ he said. ‘Council staff and their contractors who use herbicide have undertaken appropriate training and aspire to minimise its use. Plus, to help reduce our herbicide use, we have recently purchased a portable steam machine that is currently being used for weed control at the shire’s playgrounds. It will also be treating pavements and garden beds in the town and village centres.’
You, in a swimsuit – p18–20
netdaily Battery storage sales expected to explode
Online in
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A show for more than just the birds
The Eichlers thoroughly enjoyed the pet parade at Mullumbimby’s 108th Agriculture Show. In spite of some wet weather, hundreds enjoyed last weekend’s action-filled show. Trotters thrilled, flying motorcyclists dropped jaws and the fireworks were answered by lightning. Pies were devoured, chooks were admired, a show girl was crowned, cakes were judged, baby animals were petted, reptiles fascinated and repelled at the same time. Costa got dirty in the garden. Horses cleared hurdles and cattle went moo! Photo Jeff Dawson
Coastal zones to get makeover Environmental groups have welcomed a new state government coastal management reform package, which they say ‘consolidates and updates planning and development controls for some of the state’s most sensitive ecosystems’.
Four areas defined The minister’s announcement includes proposals to create a new Coastal Management Act, Coastal Management State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), and Coastal Management Manual to guide decision makers.
Under the new arrangements, the coastal zone – roughly all land 1km from the water’s edge – would be divided into four areas where different development controls will apply: coastal wetlands and rainforests; coastal vulnerability areas (land subject to coastal hazards – erosion etc); coastal environment areas (land containing estuaries, lagoons, headlands, etc); coastal use areas (land adjacent to coastal waters where development may be carried out). Meanwhile, Council will table a report at the upcoming Thursday meeting on the Coastal Hazard Man-
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agement Study Byron Bay Embayment (CHMSBBE). The report by consultants Water Research Laboratory (WRL) is specific to Byron Bay’s beaches and includes NSW government department letters to Council staff which point to a number of ‘issues and errors’ within the report. Namely, the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) found a number of ‘errors and assumptions’, and after correcting these, ‘the relative ranking of options changed with planned retreat the highest performing option’ [as opposed to rockwalls].
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