Aucklanders scramble to halt aerial pesticide spraying blitz
Subject: Wasps scramble to halt blitz................
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 12:41:47 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulationcc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
AUCKLAND
SATURDAY, 19 JANUARY 2002 Wasps scramble to halt blitz
17 JANUARY 2002 By CHRIS REED
Critics of the aerial spraying campaign against the painted apple moth in Auckland are mounting a last-ditch demonstration against the blitz.
The West Aucklanders Against Aerial Spraying (Wasp) group wants people to protest outside Henderson's John Henry Centre, home of the programme's operational headquarters.
The rally starts at 2pm tomorrow - just 14 hours before officials decide if the weather conditions are right for spraying.
Operations controller Peter Wilkins says no unauthorised people will be allowed in the campaign office but staff have no control over protests outside.
WASP chairwoman Helen Wiseman-Dare says she's appalled the campaign is due to start before research is completed into whether there is a link between the spray and thyroid problems.
Health experts are trying to complete research into the number of cases of hypo-thyroidism, confirmed after a similar spraying campaign in Auckland's eastern suburbs in the mid-1990s.
Ms Wiseman-Dare believes the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has not done enough to plan health monitoring or public health management.
"The ministry has not offered to pay the health costs or costs of evacuation for at-risk residents," she says.
"The onus should be on the ministry to provide protection to residents."
Ms Wiseman-Dare is concerned that the northwestern motorway and Rosebank Rd will stay open while spraying takes place - a decision taken under police advice.
She's angry that the ministry won't reveal the composition of Foray 48B, the substance being sprayed.
It contains around 2 per cent caterpillar-killing Btk with the rest made up of secret ingredients.
The ministry says it knows what's in Foray 48B but can't reveal it for commercial reasons dictated by the United States manufacturer.
It says it's tested the product and is confident it poses no risks to healthy people.
Officials say people with respiratory problems need to take precautions.
About 100 people, who registered health problems with the ministry, are getting individual advice.
Staff from the Auckland District Health Board say privacy issues are preventing them comparing thyroid cases from the eastern suburbs with others from the Auckland region.
Their efforts are continuing.
The spraying campaign is focused on Waikumete Cemetery, the Avondale peninsula and the edges of the Whau River and connected waterways.
It's costing from $8 million to $11 million and is expected to affect 4000 to 5000 properties.
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