Is weed spray control in sight?
A proposed review of the Auckland Council’s maintenance contracts across the city could see a reduction in the use of chemical weed sprays in parks.
Project 17 outlined the maintenance contracts for more than 5000 council sites across the region, which expired on June 30, 2017.
The sites include parks, buildings and open spaces, and the project splits the city into five contract areas.
Auckland Council’s general manager of community facilities, Rod Sheridan, told the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, which is part of contract area Tahi, that Project 17 was about having ‘‘smarter, better managed contracts and improving our services’’ and having ‘‘standardised contracts with flexibility’’.
He said the proposal, which had been discussed since September 2016, would streamline and standardise service and maintenance around the city.
The three core contracts outlined in the proposal are for a full facilities contract, which included open spaces and building maintenance and specialised contracts for arboriculture, which included pruning, tree removal, planting, ecological work and removal of pests to restore native biodiversity.
The proposal outlined weed management focused on reducing the use of chemicals.
Manual and mechanical weed controls were currently used in and around children’s playgrounds and that wouldn’t change - but mechanical edging would also be used along paving, and other hard edges, under the new contracts.
The report said the reduction in the use of agrichemicals would be closely monitored.
Site-specific exceptions to the rule wiould be discussed with local boards in April and May.
Sheridan said local boards would have the opportunity to ‘‘vary service levels’’ to suit their own areas.
The five contract areas and the local boards they include are:Tahi: Devonport-Takapuna, Hibiscus and Bays, Kaipatiki, Upper Harbour Rua: Albert-Eden, Great Barrier, Puketapapa, Waiheke, Whau Toru: Henderson-Massey, Rodney, Waitakere Ranges Wha: Howick, Maungakiekie-Tamaki, Orakei, Waitemata Rima: Franklin, MangereOtahuhu, Manurewa, OtaraPapatoetoe, Papakura.