The City sprays weeds on kerb lines, footpaths and hard stand median islands twice a year, and from the start of November for up to six weeks.
The City advertises in PerthNow Cockburn four to six weeks prior to spraying with the organic herbicide, which gives people the opportunity to put themselves on the 'do not spray' register for their own property.
If you don’t want the kerb or footpath near your property treated, please register your name and address on our ‘Do Not Spray Register’ by emailing or calling 08 9411 3444.
The City ensures the safe use of herbicides is an integral part of weed management practices for staff and residents. The City minimises chemical use where possible.
Weed management is undertaken in parks, streetscapes, natural areas and on roads, footpaths and median strips. The City does not apply herbicide to residential verges adjacent to private property.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) approved glyphosate is the most commonly applied herbicide in the City, especially for road surfaces. Organic herbicide products are used at some locations. Slasher Weedkiller is used for pedestrian paths. Roundup Bioactive 360 is applied in aquatic areas and wetlands within the City as it has been approved for use in these environments by the APVMA.
Slasher Weedkiller
- Product name: Slasher Weedkiller
- APVMA approval
- Application no.: 57540
- Active constituent/s: 525 g/L nonanoic acid
- Applicant name: Organic Crop Protectants Pty Ltd
- Applicant ACN: 003 149 719 Summary of use: For non-selective control of weeds, grasses, moss and algae in various crop and non-crop situations
- Date of registration/approval: 6 October 2016
- Product registration no.: 68118
- Label approval no.: 68118/57540
We are limited in relation to other effective methods of weed control that can be undertaken economically in natural areas.
Glyphosate with its current constituents is considered safe, subject to compliance with the manufacturer’s safety guidelines for application, storage and cartage. Glyphosate has been approved for use by the Federal Department of Health’s Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
The City uses low pressure spray units where possible.
Signage is installed as per the Department of Health Guidelines when chemicals are being applied. In large grassed areas, contractors display signs, use flashing beacons and use a foam residue marker to show where spraying has occurred.
The contractor spraying the kerb drives until he spots a weed and sprays directly on to the weed. They do not spray if people are in the vicinity.
All City officers are required to wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and are restricted to spraying on days when conditions are favourable Favourable conditions relate to wind direction, wind speed and weather.
International and Australian considerations of glyphosate
The Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has indicated that glyphosate is a registered pesticide and it has been deemed safe to use as per the manufacturers instructions on the label.
The APVMA concluded that glyphosate does not pose a cancer risk to humans and that products containing glyphosate are safe to use as per the label instructions. It has not made any change to this stance since the release of the assessment outcomes on 23 March 2017.
APVMA undertook a detailed assessment of the human health risks associated with glyphosates in late 2016, following concerns raised by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
For more information on APVMA's stance visit The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website.