(18/9/2018) Freo extends chemical-free weed control

All playgrounds, footpaths and road kerbs in Fremantle will be subject to chemical-free weed control under a new tender awarded by the City of Fremantle.

The City’s Finance, Policy, Operations and Legislation committee last week awarded the tender to GreenSteam Australia to provide chemical-free weed control for the next two years, with the option of a one year extension.

Under the contract footpaths, cycle ways and road kerbs in suburban areas will be steam treated twice a year, while the city centre, high priority roads and playgrounds will be treated six times a year.

City of Fremantle Parks and Landscape manager Ryan Abbott said the contract was part of the City’s goal to reduce chemical use as much as possible.

“We have an integrated management approach to control weeds which includes a range of measures including steam control, mechanical means like mowing and the use of chemicals where necessary,” Mr Abbott said.

“Steam weeding is very effective but also more expensive than other methods, and there are some places like playing fields, parks and bush areas where chemical control is the only viable option.

“But we are continually reviewing our weed management to ensure best practice, with the goal of reducing year-on-year chemical use.

“There are a lot of new non-chemical herbicides being developed, so hopefully in the coming years they will become more effective and affordable and the City can adopt them for broad-scale weed control.”

The City of Fremantle’s 2017 One Planet Strategy annual report included an additional action to reduce the use of chemicals for weed control.

A key project for 2018 is to prepare a report for the council with strategies for the City to reduce the use of glyphosate.