❓ Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Forest Products Commission's (FPC) aerial spraying practices, focusing on environmental impact and compensation for affected farmers. The Minister responds by outlining FPC's adherence to standards and providing water testing results.
AnsweredQoN 649Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FOREST PRODUCTS COMMISSION — AERIAL
SPRAYING OPERATIONS
649. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister
representing the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the reference on page 690
of budget paper No 2, volume 2, to activities of the Forest Products
Commission.
(1) What
management plan does the FPC have in place to ensure its spraying programs do
not allow pesticides and other chemicals such as Roundup to leach into
waterways or neighbouring properties, and what testing does the FPC carry out
to measure contamination of soil, water and vegetation on land adjacent to
sprayed areas?
(2) What
compensation will the state government offer to Donnybrook farmers Jeff Pow and
Michelle McManus, who have been forced to undertake an expensive chemical
testing program to determine whether their food products can still be certified
organic after spraying was carried out by the FPC directly adjacent to their
property?
SPRAYING OPERATIONS
649. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister
representing the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the reference on page 690
of budget paper No 2, volume 2, to activities of the Forest Products
Commission.
(1) What
management plan does the FPC have in place to ensure its spraying programs do
not allow pesticides and other chemicals such as Roundup to leach into
waterways or neighbouring properties, and what testing does the FPC carry out
to measure contamination of soil, water and vegetation on land adjacent to
sprayed areas?
(2) What
compensation will the state government offer to Donnybrook farmers Jeff Pow and
Michelle McManus, who have been forced to undertake an expensive chemical
testing program to determine whether their food products can still be certified
organic after spraying was carried out by the FPC directly adjacent to their
property?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) The Forest
Products Commission conducts its aerial spraying operations in accordance with
relevant codes, standards and legislation. The commission's operations
are independently certified to ISO 14001, which is the international standard
for environmental management systems. An aerial spraying management plan is
drafted for each aerial spraying operation undertaken by the FPC. Monitoring of
herbicide application is undertaken as part of regular inspections during the
application period.
(2) Water
analysis, both pre and post-spraying, has been undertaken by ALS Environmental
and results provided to Mr Pow and Ms McManus. Results from five test sites
show there is no detectable amount of either glyphosate or metsulfuron-methyl
in the water post spraying.
Products Commission conducts its aerial spraying operations in accordance with
relevant codes, standards and legislation. The commission's operations
are independently certified to ISO 14001, which is the international standard
for environmental management systems. An aerial spraying management plan is
drafted for each aerial spraying operation undertaken by the FPC. Monitoring of
herbicide application is undertaken as part of regular inspections during the
application period.
(2) Water
analysis, both pre and post-spraying, has been undertaken by ALS Environmental
and results provided to Mr Pow and Ms McManus. Results from five test sites
show there is no detectable amount of either glyphosate or metsulfuron-methyl
in the water post spraying.
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