Wollongong City Council is looking to move away from its reliance on the herbicide glyphosate, and is trialling alternative methods of weed control.
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The news came as Blacktown council workers walked off the job on Thursday saying management was forcing workers who refused to use glyphosate into other jobs.
Sold as RoundUp, is legal for use in Australia but has come under closer scrutiny after three court cases in the US where plaintiffs have succeeded with claims their cancer was caused by prolonged exposure to the chemical.
Other methods including thermal (steam) weedkillers, and increased use of removal by hand, are being trialled at the Wollongong Botanical Gardens, which is one of the major sites where RoundUp is used.
United Services Union industrial officer Stuart Geddes welcomed the move.
"Wollongong council has taken into consideration some of the concerns that have been raised about RoundUp being a potential hazard," he said.
"They're looking at using different systems including thermal removal, and trialling this in the Botanical Gardens as the first location," he said.
"There's also been a bit more of a focus on hand weeding, particularly in that area. [Council has] been amicable and willing to talk with the union whenever we've had concerns or wanted to have discussions in relation to that."
The USU had written to several councils asking them to explore different weedkilling methods other than glyphosate, to minimise the risk to workers.
Mr Geddes said any workers who didn't want to use herbicides would be supported.
"Of course, and we already have supported some workers in that instance, when they haven't felt comfortable when using that. We'll support our members in those instances, and health and safety first and foremost."
Among the first Australians to sue is Victorian gardener Michael Ogalirolo, 54, who regularly used the herbicide between 1997 and 2018 and who has developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Wollongong City Council was contacted for comment.
Council spokespeople had previously said it would review its use of glyphosate for aerial spraying, but reiterated that it was approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
Ben Langford
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
