Page 1063 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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Environment—blackberry spraying
(Question No 2153)
Ms Le Couteur asked the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, upon notice, on 15 February 2019:
(1) Have Government employees told foragers that all blackberries in the ACT are safe to eat including those growing alongside the roadsides unless signs are posted in the area indicating otherwise.
(2) How often are the Environment ACT website maps that indicate where blackberry spraying has occurred over the past 10 years or so updated.
(3) What is the policy regarding signage after a wild blackberry area has been sprayed.
(4) What type of herbicides are being used on wild blackberry in the ACT.
(5) Are there any known health implications or side effects for humans that consume blackberries sprayed with the herbicide in question.
(6) Are there any known health implications or side effects for wildlife that consume blackberries sprayed with the herbicide in question.
(7) Is the Government of the opinion that it is safe to pick and eat wild blackberries in the ACT; if yes, why; if not, why.
Mr Gentleman: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Not to my knowledge. The Parks and Conservation Service web site (under the Biosecurity tab) states clearly: “Blackberries are controlled with herbicide at priority locations across the ACT. Warning signs are placed at these locations. If you see a sign warning not to eat the Blackberry fruit or a weed spraying in progress sign, then you should avoid eating Blackberry fruit in that area noting that fruiting times vary at each location and can occur anytime from December to May.”
(2) All Blackberry sprayed on public land is mapped using the ‘Collector’ an app for smart phones and tablets. The Collector data is summarised in smart maps on the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate web site. These maps are produced annually showing an ongoing history of spray sites.
Members of the public can view where on-going control of invasive plants, such as blackberry is occurring. See the following link:
https://actgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/61137a71362a4deb84e3bc83d8fdccbb
(3) Warning signs are placed where blackberries are to be sprayed. These are kept in place till after the fruiting period.
(4) A number of different herbicides are used to control blackberry: metsulfuron methyl, triclopyr, picloram, aminopyralid and glyphosate.
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