Residents plead for spray signage in treated areas
RESIDENTS are aggravated that the Bass Coast Shire Council have sprayed the side road vegetation in residential areas of Wonthaggi without any signage or use of spray dye in the treated areas. A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, has raised...
RESIDENTS are aggravated that the Bass Coast Shire Council have sprayed the side road vegetation in residential areas of Wonthaggi without any signage or use of spray dye in the treated areas.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, has raised concern that her dog got sick from the treated area after she had to move off the gravel on Chisholm Road and onto the side road to let a vehicle pass.
The speed limit along Chisholm Road, Wonthaggi remains 100km, and despite the speed limit being another issue entirely, this road is the only access road to the Wonthaggi town centre for pedestrians who walk their pets into the main street.
It was claimed that the roadside vegetation had been poisoned the day before and a resident’s dog got very sick from what she assumed was the treated vegetation, ending in a $500 vet bill.
“A few weeks later we had to get off the road to allow the large council chemical spray truck to go past. We watched the truck stop at each pole marking a drain - and then move on to the next drain. If we had not seen this, I would not know the chemical truck had been and would have walked the dog right into the freshly sprayed grass again, with the risk of further danger. There was no warning the vegetation had been poisoned, lane ways have also been poisoned without notice or signs to warn people.”
The subject has been raised with the Bass Coast Shire Council for comment, but they declined to provide a response at this stage.
However, an Agriculture Victoria spokesperson said, ‘While there are no general legal requirements for councils to put up signs or use spray dye when applying pesticides, it is good practice for them to take either step in order to minimise the risk of people entering treated areas.’
‘Agriculture Victoria encourages councils and other public land managers to ensure they are taking appropriate steps to address the risk their chemical use may pose to others, including neighbours and people accessing the treated area.’
