An employee of Dunstan Sprayers uses Roundup herbicide on
willows next to Lakeside Dr in Wanaka. Photo by Johannes
Stapper.
The company that sprayed young willows and other weeds
alongside Lakeside Dr in Wanaka says the work was done ''by the
book''.
A nearby resident, Johannes Stapper, complained to the Otago
Daily Times the spraying ''just a few metres away'' from the
lake was ''just plainly wrong and does not support our pure
New Zealand green image''.
The 1ha vacant site, across Lakeside Dr from the lake, is
owned by the Infinity Investment Group, which employed
Dunstan Sprayers, of Alexandra, to do the work.
Dunstan Sprayers spokesman Mark Edgar told the ODT the work
last week was carried out in accordance with the Otago
Regional Council's water plan.
Mr Edgar said the spray used was Roundup and the work was a
''very minor touch-up'' after a bigger spray programme on the
site last year.
However, Mr Stapper, who took pictures of the spraying,
described it as a ''disgusting sight''.
''As you can see ... this guy just randomly sprays the poison
all over the place, even straight into the little pond, which
has a stream going directly into the lake.''
The correct procedures for the use of herbicides in
circumstances where they enter water are specified in section
12.7.1.3 of the council's water plan.
mark.price@odt.co.nz
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