Bellingen Green Action Groups (BGAG) was scathing of the draft plan that fleshes out when and where pesticide use should be carried out in public places and how the community will be informed before, during and after an area has been sprayed.

BGAG is well-known to the council after successfully orchestrating a trial of organic herbicide to manage public vegetation in July. Following this win, the group hoped there may have been a shift in general weed management but to their disappointment the council weed notification plan has given rise to a number of concerns.

BGAG spokesperson Susan Weil said: “the plan is inadequate and convoluted … it does not put the safety of either the community members or the environment first.”

“We want a no spray zone which includes a 100 metre set back to be added to this document. We want the no spray zones to include all sensitive areas as outlined in the draft to include: schools/pre-schools/child care centres, hospitals, nursing homes and all sensitive environmental habitats including all our waterways, rivers, creeks, drains…water run-off areas.”

Susan claimed council had not provided adequate or clear procedures for notifying the public about planned spraying.

“In this plan council continuously attempts to put the responsibility back onto the residents’ plate. By asking them to look up the spraying schedule online, to register if they are sensitive to the chemicals being used … this is not the residents responsibility - is it not easy to navigate the council website. Not everyone in this community has or can operate a computer so it’s not a method we subscribe to,” she said.

BGAG have outlined a number or alternative procedures which include: to warn the community a week in advance via the Courier-Sun; and set up clear visible signage on site (and area) a week in advance.

“The community has a right to know in advance of the area to be sprayed, what will be sprayed and how much will be sprayed,” Susan said.

“They need to have ample to time to adjust their schedules, move away for the day, shut their homes, cover their front gardens or move their livestock to a safer paddock etc,” Susan said.

The Draft Bellingen Shire Council Pesticide Notification Plan details how, where and when council will advise the community when using pesticides in public places.

The draft plan can be viewed at council’s administration duilding during office hours and also at the Dorrigo, Bellingen and Urunga libraries during normal opening hours or downloaded from council’s website at www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au.

Community members are invited to make submissions by email to council@bellingen.nsw.gov.au, or alternatively written submissions should be addressed to The General Manager, Bellingen Shire Council, PO Box 117, Bellingen NSW 2454.

The engagement period closes at 4pm Wednesday, September 17.