On November 15, R Kenyon wrote to The Sun (Papamoa digs poses prickly problem), requesting the council spray the 'whole area of Papamoa...each year” in order to manage Onehunga weed.
J Duncan responded (November 22), pointing out the minor inconvenience of prickles is preferred to being poisoned by steadily-accumulating toxins in our environment.
Our preference for neat lawns creates perfect conditions for growth of Onehunga weed. The plant is suppressed by longer grass and shade, and its prickles (actually seeds), remain soft in wet conditions.
Thus, control is easily achieved by setting mowers higher, or by not mowing at all from October to January.
Regular watering of small grass areas minimise prickles even when the weed is present.
Clearly, accepting higher vegetation in our parks and reserves would require a shift in attitude about levels of service provided by council.
However, J Duncan is absolutely right that chemical solutions should never be the first choice for environmental management, due to toxicity issues.
In this case, a minor inconvenience can be easily managed using natural methods, adjusted levels of service, and tolerance - should we should encourage council to implement and promote that approach.
I speak on behalf of the Toxic Agrichemical Advisory Forum to TCC, a voluntary group of citizens who advise TCC on use of agrichemicals in Tauranga.
Its aims are to protect public health, reduce use of agrichemicals (sprays) in Tauranga City, to require justification for any use of agrichemicals for environmental management; and to educate council and the public about toxins in our environment.
Ron Lopert, Ian McLean, Ann Major, John Allen, Bill Nyhill and Catherine de Monchy sit on the forum, which meets monthly.Its role includes reviewing all requests for approval of new agrichemicals, consideration of public complaints and development of policy in relation to use of toxin.
Dr Ian G McLean,
Tauranga City.