THE City of Belmont is the latest council to review its use of glyphosate amid community concerns over its safety.
It comes after the Town of Victoria Park conducted a similar review that recommended council continue using glyphosate-based products such as Roundup despite its use being linked to cancer, stating more environmentally friendly weed control methods were expensive and time consuming.
The Town said residents could join a Do Not Spray Register and maintain their own verges if they don’t want council staff using glyphosate near their homes.
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READ NOWCity of Belmont councillor Jenny Davis said the continued use of glyphosate in the City is causing concern in the community and recent media coverage shows it is likely to increase.
“To address community’s concerns, the City should look at reviewing the use of glyphosate and identify alternatives to its use for ongoing weed control,” she said.
“The review should be completed as a priority.
“The use and safety of glyphosate has been questioned due to a number of publications including the World Health Organisation, the International Agency Research Cancer and most recently through several legal cases in the USA against the glyphosate manufacturer Monsanto and Bayer Crop Science.”
Cr Davis’ motion was carried unanimously.
The City will review alternative practices and associated cost implications and present its findings to council by April 2020.