Media Release - 3 August 2006

From West Aucklanders Against Aerial Spraying (WASP)

Haven't West Aucklanders Suffered Enough?

After enduring nearly 3 years of aerial spraying of Foray 48B for the Painted Apple Moth the Waitakere City Council now plans to subject west Auckland residents to more aerial spraying, this time of Round-Up to eradicate willow trees.

"If the Council thinks west Aucklanders are going to sit idly by while helicopters spray them with toxic chemicals again, they've got another thought coming", said Helen Wiseman-Dare, Chairperson, West Aucklanders Against Aerial Spraying (WASP) today in response to the news.

"As we have observed with aerial spraying campaigns around the country, there is no such thing as "ideal weather conditions". There will always be spray drift no matter how hard the Council tries to deny it. Residents' drinking water supplies will be affected and those suffering from chemical sensitivities as a result of the three years of previous aerial spraying, will be particularly vulnerable. This includes children, pregnant women and the elderly."

"West Auckland already has an epidemic of motor neurone disease and other illnesses as a result of the last lot of aerial spraying. Round-Up has been shown to have endocrine and toxic effects."

"It is outrageous that the Waitakere City Council has so little regard for the health of west Auckland residents and users of the Bethells Beach area."

"As with the PAM aerial spraying, residents are once again being expected to bear the costs of this unacceptable method of eradication."

ENDS

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