Category Archives: Tyagarah Nature Reserve

Byron Shire Chemical Free Land Care media release 6 August 2013

Representatives from Byron Shire Chemical Free Land Care (BSCFL) together with concerned locals are once again gathering this morning at Tyagarah Nature Reserve in an ongoing non-violent direct action to halt the aerial spraying of herbicides on coastal dunes Bitou Bush by National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS).

“We’ve been trying to negotiate with the NPWS, including the Native Title owners since the 12th July. We’ve asked them to spare the Nature Reserve from spraying,” said BSCFL co-ordinator Nadia de Souza Pietramale. “So far we’ve been unsuccessful and they’re threatening to spray it each day”.

“The NPWS have left us with no other choice but to protest in this manner,” says indigenous representative Jarmbi. “We have ancestral ties to the sacred site”.

“The community is really concerned about this chemical intensive approach to managing Bitou Bush and the impacts it could have on threatened species like the Pink Nodding Orchid and other creatures like birds, bees and butterflies,” said Nadia de Souza Pietramale.

“The Bitou Bush needs to be removed so the native vegetation can re-generate but that can be done without herbicides using an effective non-chemical method which is approved under the Bitou Bush Treatment Abatement Plan,” said Nadia de Souza Pietramale.

“We’ve already compromised enough. The Byron Cape was sprayed for the 3rd time last Friday, along with Tallow beach Cosy corner. Broken Heads is next. No more,” she said.

“Yesterday we met with NPWS officers at Tyagarah Beach and we asked for the same thing that we did at the meeting on July 12th. We want them to compromise one dot on the map, Tyagarah Nature Reserve, so that the community can restore it using ecological restorations principles, ”said Nadia de Souza Pietramale.

“We were able to peacefully halt the operations by the NPWS to aerial spray the dunes yesterday, but we weren’t able to come to any resolution. We rejected the NPWS idea of only spraying half the Reserve,” said indigenous representative Jarmbi.

Contacts: Byron Shire Chemical Free Land Care Nadia de Souza Pietramale 0478272300 and Iris (on Tyagarah now) 0417937720. Indigenous representative Jarmbi 0400530683.

Original Post 6 August 2013

On Monday 5th August concerned locals gathered at dawn on Tyagarah Beach to voice their fears about the National Parks and Wildlife Service aerial spraying of the Tyagarah Nature Reserve with Metsulfuron methyl 600.
The NPWS boom sprayed Cape Byron from their helicopter on Thursday, the first of August, and are due to do the reserve this week.


The locals are calling for urgent discussions about the health and safety of aerial spraying on these fragile dune ecosystems, some of which have endangered species, and to highlight the bitou bush crowning technique, not just as control method, but also to create local employment. Local bee keepers also are showing their opposition to the operation.

Original Post 6 August 2013

People who care for the Earth met on Wednesday 31 July for a peaceful action at the Tyagarah Nature Reserve.

The aim of the action

was to raise awareness about a harmless, sustainable, chemical free alternative to the control of the South African Bitou Bush. This alternative practice is already being successfully implemented in the north end of the reserve. Our action may also illuminate the questionable methodology of aerial spraying our coastal national parks.

Beautiful Tyagarah Nature Reserve is a sacred area, so we are treading with respect and have asked permission of Ngarakwal Elder Uncle Harry Boyd who was present to answer questions and share cultural information during the day.

July 2013

Rally for a chemical-free Byron Shire organized by the Byron Shire Chemical Free
Landcare Group and friends in Mullumbimby, NSW in September 2012:

Original Post 13 July 2013

Representatives from Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare and Save Tyagarah Nature Reserve From Aerial Spraying Facebook group meet with National Parks and Wildlife Service Local Area Manager Sue Walker, to discuss the scheduled aerial spraying of Bitou Bush in Byron Shire.

Despite plans for spraying to start during the week, Sue Walker told the group “No spraying would happen because the weather forecast is not ideal for the operation”. It’s proposed the operation would go ahead the following week, weather permitting.

Concerns were raised about the NPWS pesticide-intensive management regime for Bitou Bush on public land and a request was made that no new areas be sprayed, in particular Tyagarah Nature Reserve.

The spraying operation would see parts of the Tyagarah Nature Reserve aerially sprayed from 870 metres South of the Northern boundary of the reserve, heading all the away along until Belongil Creek. It’s unclear for how many years this spraying would occur and what the expected results would be.

The group put it to NPWS that Tyagarah Nature Reserve instead be managed using a non-chemical, ecological restoration approach which is safe for the environment and community and also proven to be effective. Sue Walker agreed to consult with Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) about Tyagarah Nature Reserve and report back to the group.

Questions were raised with Ms Walker about the residual impacts of the herbicide metsulfuron methyl and the risks it poses to littoral rainforest species, including the threatened Pink Nodding Orchid, as well as marine life along the shoreline.
When asked about coastal erosion, Sue Walker told the group experts had inspected the areas and determined the removal of Bitou Bush would not exacerbate erosion, a baffling conclusion since Bitou Bush was originally planted to stop erosion. Currently, the dune cliffs at Tyagarah Beach are around seven metres high with the Bitou Bush perched on top.

Given the high degree of community concern about aerial spraying in the Shire, the group took issue with the inadequate community consultation and notification for this intensive spraying operation. The NPWS have placed a limited number of notices in local papers, but it hasn’t utilised electronic media to get the information to the community and to hear their feedback.
Despite being formally invited to attend a free public seminar to answer community questions, Sue Walker advised, “She did not have staff to attend”.

Nadia de Souza Pietramale
Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare

Why is there so little public notice and discussion about aerial spraying of Bitou Bush in Byron Shire?

(Original Post 4 July 2013)

Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare would like to express its concern about the lack of adequate notice and discussion of the proposed aerial spraying of Bitou Bush by helicopters along the Byron Shire coast, including for the first time, the Tyagarah Nature Reserve. The herbicide to be sprayed is metsulfuron-methyl, which goes by trade names such as “Brush-off and “Brushkiller 600”.

The first we saw of the plan was a tiny public notice, in The Echo, volume 28#01 on page 41. The public notice was provided by the Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services in accordance with requirements under the Pesticides Regulation 1995 and the NPWS Pesticide Use Notification Plan.
While we appreciate the intention of the NPWS is to manage the Bitou Bush, we believe the overall impact to coastal biodiversity as a result of aerial spraying must be considered, along with the community impacts, including impacts to health and tourism.

The proposed herbicide metsulfuron-methyl is a Group B sulfonylurea herbicide. It’s a translocated herbicide that acts to inhibit cell division in the shoots and roots of the plant. Some native plants, such as soft leaved pioneer species, are also sensitive to its impacts and can be killed or injured.
According to the Pesticide Management Education Program of Cornell University, metsulfuron-methyl poses risks of exposure primarily through skin and eye contact. It is moderately to very mobile, especially in sandy soils. It has a half-life of 120-180 days in silt loam soil. While it is classified as low toxicity to birds, bees, fish and invertebrates, it is not clear what impact it will have on Australian species.

The Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Program, which regularly sees large tracts of coastline aerially sprayed, is not without its critics. Questions that urgently need to be asked are what damage is all this herbicide application really doing to coastal biodiversity and the community’s health? What happens when Bitou Bush is removed, do other weeds such as Glory Lily become an even bigger problem, requiring even more applications of even more dangerous herbicide? Is this what our community wants?

According to a buried assessment report of the Bitou Abatement program by Paul Flowers in 2004, “…The program of Bitou Helicopter Boom Spraying (BHBS) has achieved satisfactory levels of effectiveness when the aims are simply to control Bitou Bush. BHBS has not achieved high levels of effectiveness when gauged as a biodiversity management tool due to inadequate use of precautionary measures and the inadequate monitoring of herbicide injury of native plants.”

There are other methods available for managing Bitou Bush. The physical crowning technique used by Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare volunteers, at Brunswick Heads Crown Land Reserve, is extremely efficient and simple, anyone can do it. It uses zero pesticides, and would give jobs for our locals, not to mention exercise, healthy soil, learning with the country, a sense of belonging, connecting, community, safe wildlife and respect for the land.

Perhaps we don’t move as fast as the helicopters, but we leave clean environmental footprints and anyway, what is the hurry? Why do NPWS insist on this chemical-intensive, mainstream agricultural approach towards the management of our biological reserves, especially when there is a safer alternative?

The NPWS contractors are planning to spray various areas on fine weather days during the weekdays from the 15th – 26th of July 2013. Patrols will occur and signage will be erected. It’s likely the spraying will occur in the mornings when there isn’t much wind.
Access to some public areas will be restricted. Tallow Beach Road within Cape Byron State Conservation Area and Grays Lane within Tyagarah Nature Reserve and Tyagarah Beach adjoining Tyagarah Nature Reserve will be closed.

If you have any questions or are concerned about this operation please contact Byron Coast Area Manager on 6620 9300.

by Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare
Contact:
Nadia de Souza Pietramale 0478272300
Jo Immig 0413 683782
email us

Map of Tyagarah Nature Reserve:

View Larger Map

A proposal has been written for the joint community management of Bitou Bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) at Tyagarah Nature Reserve.

It has been prepared for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service by Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare. To read it, go to:

Joint Bitou Management Proposal for TNR

Ecological restoration management for Bitou bush control is efficient and will give many young bush regenerators and the community an opportunity to practice an indigenous approach towards landcare. While we disconnect the bitou bush from its roots we connect ourselves with the country, learn about local bush tucker and take back our ability to learn from the country. Resources that are way too precious to hand on to giant corporations like chemical companies. Perhaps in other parts of NSW state and Australia, NPWS does not have a community that is prepared to do the work, however in Byron Bay, it does.
Northern Rivers : NBN News
Byron’s chemical free Landcare group is at loggerheads with the National Parks and Wildlife Service over its plans to spray…

By Iris Ray Nunn

 
“When does the healing start”?
This is the question that local bush regenerator Nadia de Souza Pietramale is sincerely asking the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and those of us who live in the Byron Shire who have done nothing to stop the continual aerial spraying of toxic pesticides on our beautiful coastal dunes over the past decade. “First we mine the dunes, then we introduce Bitou Bush to stabilise the dunes, then we spray toxic pesticides from the air to stop the Bitou bush because it has taken over the native flora habitat, then we deal with the side effects of the poison on our health and the health of the fragile ecosystems in the area sprayed. So I ask, “When does the healing start?” says Nadia.

Any day now, till the 16th of August, a NPWS helicopter will drop a herbicide made by Do Pont, Melsulfran Methyl 600, from the sky onto the front dune strip of 7 km of land, from Belongil Creek to the North of Tyagarah Nature Reserve. As part of this operation, Tallow Beach Cosy corner and Cape Byron State Conservation Area Light House cliffs, also will be aerial sprayed.  Out of respect for the Byron Shire Chemical Free Land Care, initiated in 2010 by a group of locals,  NPWS wont spray the last 4.5 hectares that runs up to the dog beach track, at the Brunswick Surf Club. Why? Because, out of this whole site, 90% of the Bituo Bush has successfully being removed and followed up by hand with only a small group of people working a leisurely 3 hours a fortnight, during the past 3 years. This area was on the schedule to be sprayed by Crownland on the 2009 aerial spray.

“I ask the Government, let the community take care of the problem. Let’s us take back our power of knowledge from the toxic pesticide corporation giants into our power of healing the land with our bodies” says Nadia.

The Bitou Bush Crowning technique, what involve lopping the Bitou to a half metre stamp and then disconnected it from the roots, with a per of loppers, only took a few minutes to explain to a group of concerned locals on Wednesday. 

“It took four of us about three minutes to completely remove one Bitou Bush that was at least two metres high and two meters wide,” said indigenous man Jarmbi. He is the nephew of Ngarakwal Elder Uncle Harry Boyd. “I’m driven by Spirit to care for Country. My Ancestors came to this place for thousands of years. They are telling me to stand up. I feel the old people helping us. I know how sacred the land is and our Ancestors want us to take care of it. Spraying it with poison and risking the health of the water-ways, the wallabies, pippis, crabs, eagles and snakes that live in these dunes, does not sit right with my Spirit. We have to stop it. I am thankful to good people like Nadia and her mentor Ellen White. They are here to teach us; me, my friends and our children, a way in which we can remove the Bitou safely whilst coming together as a family, learning about nature, connecting to Country and finding bush tucker. The opportunities of strengthening community should always be taken into consideration. This is another one that should be taken seriously. Who knows, we may be able to redirect the money we’ve been giving to the chemical companies all these years, back to our kids to work with Country! Now we just need to help NPWS change their attitude to dealing with the weeds and work together with them. We see this as a new way that works without chemicals and that also will be healing the land”.

Momentum is growing in the Northern Rivers for non-violent direct action to take place immediately in the Tyagarah Nature Reserve.

All concerned residents please contact Jarmbi on 04005 306 83 to find out ways in which you can become involved in these peaceful actions.

To the National Parks Area Manager Byron Coast Area

Dear Sue Walker,
We would like to say thank you for meeting with us on the 12th of July regarding our proposal to implement the non-chemical ecological restoration method to remove Bitou Bush from Tyagarah Nature Reserve. Thank you also for following up with Yvonne Stewart as you committed to doing.

We hope this will be the first meeting in a long-term friendship between the Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare and NPWS. We are 100% committed to healing the land, especially the soil ecology.

We are very disappointed with the outcomes of the meeting in terms of your decision to go ahead with the spraying of TNR and your answers to our key questions.

We also can’t understand why an indigenous elder would choose to poison the land, instead of accepting the kind hand of the community to implement a non-chemical methodology that works.

We’ve proven the technique works on the ground by clearing and following up 4 hectares of Bitou Bush, adjacent to the TNR northern boundary, over the past 3 years. We invite you and your staff to tour the site with us and we can explain the process and you can see the results.

We only work a few hours, every second Saturday, with an average of 4 to 6 people. As we work with the land we are developing a deep relationship with the country. It’s so special it makes us want to share and spread the experience.

New people are all always coming and going, however many hands make the work light. We are especially delighted with the increase of young people coming to help. They say they want to care for the land, but they don’t want to carry a spray pack on their backs.

So as we come towards the end of our site’s primary work, only ½ hectare to go which we will finish probably by next winter, our intentions are to head south, towards Byron, working on Tyagarah Nature Reserve.

We would like to share with NPWS a vision to apply for grants focusing on employing local young people with bush regeneration TAFE qualifications to help do the work. It would be so beneficial to create an employment opportunity for local youth instead of pushing them away from the environment field, because they don’t want to use pesticides.

Beekeepers rely on Tyagarah Nature Reserve and the proposed NPWS aerial spraying operation is causing a great disturbance to their business. They are our local apiarists like the “Honey Wagon”, Gary Rodger, who has had to remove his bees from the area. Locals don’t want honey with pesticide residues. Our methods would not disturb the livelihoods of our beekeepers.
 
TNR is in need of greater community presence. Women are too afraid to even go there alone as you’ve probably heard. It would be so beneficial for us to be working there bringing families and love for the country into this place. It has already had so much disturbance, mining, exotic species, now pesticides to control Bitou Bush. So when does the healing start?
 
As you are probably aware, mayor Simon Richard, is pushing for a drastic reduction in the use of pesticides in the Shire. You may have also seen the program on ABC TV, 4 Corners – Chemical Time Bomb – a very disturbing story. How can you be assured the pesticide you are proposing to put all over our coastline is not contaminated with dangerous chemicals like dioxins?
 
There are many people in this community that are concerned and opposed to the aerial spraying and pesticide-intensive management of Bitou, so this is a great opportunity for NPWS to hear the community and negotiate for healing, not further conflict.  
 
We will be persistent on this matter as our intentions come from a place of deep respect and care for the country. We believe we have already compromised enough. NPWS has already sprayed Broken Heads, the Light House, Tallow Beach and Billinudgel Nature Reserve.
 
What we ask is for NPWS to compromise on one area where we can once again demonstrate the approach. It doesn’t matter how hard I look, I can’t find evidence of the safety of this pesticide, especially in terms of its residual in sandy soil and near water, as both facts are stated on the profile description as not recommended.
 
Also as the profile description of metsulfuron methyl says, it is designed to kill tubers and bulbs. So any one that says it will not impact the threatened pink nodding orchid and other native tubers, is really only speculating.

We don’t have a written proposal at present, however we could provide it in the near future. Also our site can speak for itself and in a few months our second data report will be ready and we can share the result of our 4 x 100 m plots for work progress and 2 plots 2×4 m of glory lily research.

In conclusion, as NPWS is aware, the Bitou bush non-chemical crowning technique is recognized as efficient under the Bitou Bush TAP. We would like to ask what evidence or reason that NPWS have to suggest that the aerial spraying is preferable to the manual control offered by BSCFL and why aren’t you considering this as an effective and efficient option?  What are the concerns and reasons for the refusal of our proposal?

With kind regards,

Nadia de Souza Pietramale

www.byronshirechemicalfreelandcare.org

National Parks says no to ecological restoration

At a meeting on July 13th, Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare and Save Tyagarah Nature Reserve Facebook Page groups offered an alternative to the aerial spraying of pesticides in Tyagarah Nature Reserve. However, we heard yesterday by email that our proposal has being refused. Sue Walker,  National Parks Local Area Manager wrote in an email, “As agreed I met with Yvonne Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the Arakwal Custodians, late on 24 July 2013 and Yvonne has confirmed that she supported the planned aerial spray Bitou Bush control program.”

Our Group proposed to help do the work on the ground using the ecological restoration principles we have developed, a methodology that will protect biodiversity as a whole. 

We would need funding.  National Parks, just in the year 2006-2007, spent a budget of $4 million on aerial spraying some of the NSW coast at a cost exceeding $5000 per km (Bitou Bush Treatment Abatement Programme – TAP). Our method would be far cheaper than that.

Save Tyagarah Nature Reserve, on their pesticide aerial spraying facebook page, calls for a meeting to form an action group that will aim to halt the spraying. Please come to TNR Picnic area, at the end of Grays Lane, on Sunday 28 July, at 11 am. 

Go to the Facebook: Save Tyagarah Nature Reserve page and confirm that you are coming.

National Parks intended aerial spraying of Tyagarah Nature Reserve with the pesticide metsulfuron-methyl to ‘control Bitou Bush’. This herbicide goes by trade names such as “Brush-off” and “Brushkiller 600”.  We are seriously concerned about the immediate and the long-term impacts of the aerial spraying operations on Threatened Species like the Pink Nodding Orchid, and the regeneration of Threatened Ecological Communities like Littoral Rainforest.  In a letter to The Byron Shire Echo, July 27, 2010, p. 13, ‘Aerial Spraying has its impacts”, Ellen White documented that the 2003 aerial spraying of Dirawong Reserve (and Bundjalung National Park) caused the loss of native species, including the reduction to a single plant of the threatened Pink Nodding Orchid.  The death of animal species from the coastal littoral zone was also noted.  

Bundjalung National Park was just sprayed again on Monday 22nd July.   Is that what is coming for Tyagarah Nature Reserve – 11 years of aerial spraying or more? Is that why they won’t tell us how many applications they will need to control Bitou Bush in Tyagarah?

The Hon. Richard Jones has also corresponded with National Parks and their Minister requesting answers to a number of serious questions regarding the scientific background (or lack of it) re aerial spraying (please see the attached below).   This is important information that we must have before any spraying goes ahead. We don’t want what is happening in Bundjalung National Park to happen in our Shire.

In accordance with requirements under the Pesticides Regulation 1995 and the NPWS Pesticide Use Notification Plan, notice of the intention to aerial spray from the 15th – 26th of July was in
The Echo, volume 28#01

On 19th July, Terry Hamill was told by National Parks staff that no aerial spraying would happen that week, but would occur any day up to the 16th of August. The advertisement that we saw in the local newspaper said nothing about August. National Parks said that, legally, there would not be a need to advertise further.  Signs have already been changed on the Lighthouse walk to ‘August’. The Pesticide Act is very loose when it comes to protecting the community from pesticide exposure! So community pressure must grow to improve it.

We would like to support National Parks. We are caring people with knowledge of coastal restoration without pesticides; our eyes have been on the dunes for years. Imagine how satisfying it would be to restore Tyagarah Nature Reserve without pesticides. Imagine all the beautiful stories that we would tell our children, as we move along the land, learning about the country.

Tyagarah Nature Reserve is surrounded by people whose voices about how National Parks should manage public land in Byron Shire can make a difference.

If you care for our coast, please call National Parks (Byron Coast Area Manager 6620 9300), ask your questions, and tell them your concerns about this operation.  There is also a petition going around.

Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare
www.byronshirechemicalfreelandcare.org
Nadia de Souza Pietramale
0478 272 300

Jul 27
This is fantastic news and we will give Simon all the help that he needs. Now we need to convince NP that, in Byron Shire, we want to spray love, no pesticides. We understand the size of the task ahead to manage the land, however the health of the environment as whole have to considered to support our on specie needs. Also, in case of Tyagarah Nature Reserve we, Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare is prepare to help no just by fiscally engaging on the work of removing Bitou Bush, but also in applying for grants to employ local.

There is a growing outcry against the aerial spraying of Bitou bush in Tyagarah Nature Reserve for the first time.

Apiarists are joining the fight to stop it. Local bee keeper Garry Rogers, who sells his honey at all our local markets from “The Honey Wagon”, is not taking any risks regarding his bees. This local apiarist has removed his hives from Tyagarah this week to avoid contamination from the upcoming aerial spraying with the pesticide metsulfuron-methyl. This spraying could take place during any period of fine weather between now and 16 August, starting 870 m from the reserve north boundary, all the away to Belongil Creek. Lighthouse and Tallow Beach Cosy Corner are included in the spraying schedule.

 “I have moved my bees to Lennox Head and that has being very inconvenient and stressful for me”, said Rogers at the Mullumbimby Farmers market, on Friday, the 26th of July.

Apiarist Garry Rogers it is not alone in his concern. “The pesticide issue in itself is much more complex than we have been led to be believe,” says  Dennis van Engelsdorp, an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland.

A new study shows that the interaction of multiple pesticides is affecting bee health.
 
“It’s a lot more complicated than just one product, which means of course the solution does not lie in just banning one class of product.” The study found another complication in efforts to save the bees: US honey bees, which are descendants of European bees, do not bring home pollen from native North American crops but collect bee chow from nearby weeds and wildflowers. That pollen, however, was also contaminated with pesticides even though those plants were not the target of spraying. 

Scientists discover what’s killing the bees and it’s worse than you thought

The spraying of Tygarah Nature Reserve: Pink Nodding Orchid and Banksia woodland risk

At a meeting on July 13th, Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare offered an alternative to the aerial spraying of pesticides in Tyagarah Nature Reserve. We proposed to help do the work on the ground using the ecological restoration principles we have developed, a methodology that will protect biodiversity as a whole. Of course we would need funding. National Parks, just in the year 2007/2008, spent a budget of $4 million on aerial spraying some of the NSW coast (>$5000/km). Our method would be far cheaper than that.

I have just spoken with National Parks local area manager, Sue Walker (23rd July) with regard to their intended aerial spraying of Tyagarah Nature Reserve with the pesticide metsulfuron-methyl to ‘control Bitou Bush’. This herbicide goes by trade names such as “Brush-off” and “Brushkiller 600”. Sue Walker said she has not met with the co-managers (Yvonne Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the Arakwal custodians) to discuss our offer however will do it before the end of the week.

We are seriously concerned about the immediate and the long-term impacts of the aerial spraying operations on Threatened Species like the Pink Nodding Orchid, and the regeneration of Threatened Ecological Communities like Littoral Rainforest. In a letter to The Byron Shire Echo, July 27, 2010, p. 13, ‘Aerial Spraying has its impacts”, Ellen White documented that the 2003 aerial spraying of Dirawong Reserve (and Bundjalung National Park) caused the loss of native species, including the reduction to a single plant of the threatened Nodding Orchid. The death of animal species from the coastal littoral zone was also noted.

Bundjalung National Park was just sprayed again yesterday. Is that what is coming for Tyagarah Nature Reserve – 11 years of aerial spraying? Is that why they are too scared to tell us how many applications they will need to control Bitou Bush in Tyagarah?

The Hon. Richard Jones has also corresponded with National Parks and their Minister requesting answers to a number of serious questions regarding the scientific background (or lack of it) re aerial spraying (please see below). He has yet to hear back. This is important information that we must know before any spraying goes ahead. We don’t want what is happening in Bundjalung National Park to happen in our Shire.

In accordance with requirements under the Pesticides Regulation 1995 and the NPWS Pesticide Use Notification Plan, notice of the intention to aerial spray from the 15th – 26th of July was in The Echo, volume 28#01. On 19th July, Terry Hamill was told by National Parks staff that no aerial spraying would happen that week, but would occur any day during the month of August. The advertisement that we saw in the local newspaper said nothing about August. National Parks said that, legally, there would not be a need to advertise further. Signs have already been changed on the Lighthouse walk to ‘August’. The Pesticide Act is very loose when it comes to protecting the community from pesticide exposure!

We would like to support National Parks. We are caring people with the knowledge of coastal restoration without pesticides; our eyes have been on the floor of the dunes for years. Imagine how amazing would be the journey to restore Tyagarah Nature Reserve without pesticides. Imagine all the beautiful stories that we would tell our children, as we move along the land, learning about the country.

Tyagarah Nature Reserve is surrounded by people and our voices can make a difference – how we want National Parks to manage public land in Byron Shire.

If you care for our coast, please call National Parks
(Byron Coast Area Manager 02-6620 9300),
ask your questions, and tell them your concerns about this operation.

Byron Shire Chemical Free Landcare

Come along to a FREE public seminar:

“REDUCING CHEMICAL USE ON PUBLIC LAND”
Part of Council’s Biodiversity and Sustainability seminar series
from 10am – 12pm
Sunday 14th July
at the Brunswick Heads Community Centre
at the end of South Head Road opposite of the surf club.
Please let us know if you’re coming:
RSVP
Toxic pesticides like glyphosate are commonly used to manage weeds on public lands, including sports fields, parks, play grounds, road sides, drains, etc. As independent research continues to point to the dangers of pesticides to our health and environment, it’s time to start talking about safer alternatives available to our community.

After the talk we’ll have a guided walk through the ecological restoration area.

Bitou Bush aerial spraying proposed for Byron

Yes the helicopters are back with toxic pesticides on our shore.
The NPWS contractors are planning to spray various areas of Byron Shire coast on fine weather days during the weekdays from the 15 th – 26 th of July 2013. Patrols will occur and signage will be erected. It’s likely the spraying will occur in the mornings when there isn’t much wind.
Access to some public areas will be restricted. Tallow Beach Road within Cape Byron State Conservation Area and Grays Lane within Tyagarah Nature Reserve and Tyagarah Beach adjoining Tyagarah Nature Reserve will be closed. If you have any questions or are concerned about this operation please contact Byron Coast Area Manager on (02)6620 9300.

READ MORE

Read the Press Release HERE

Paul Flower report on herbicide spraying