14 November 2007
This pesticide use notification plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Part 4B of the Pesticides Regulation 1995 (the Regulation). The plan sets out how Housing NSW will notify members of the community of pesticide applications it makes or allows to be made to outdoor public places that it owns or controls.
Housing NSW owns and manages over 130,000 residential properties across NSW, many located in housing estates that may provide public places such as road reservations, footpaths, lanes, public reserves and playgrounds. Many of these public places have been dedicated to local Councils, but some are still owned by the Organisation.
Public Places, Users and Level of Use
The Regulation defines prescribed outdoor public places that must be covered by the notification plan, excluding buildings or structures. The categories of public place owned or controlled by Housing NSW that this Plan applies to are:
- undedicated road reservations including footpaths and roadways
- undedicated pedestrian laneways
- undedicated public reserves and playgrounds
Most Housing NSW properties are not considered to be public places. Most of the Organisations properties are fenced or signposted to maintain residential privacy, and access is controlled under the NSW Residential Tenancy Act and the NSW Housing Act.
Regular User Groups and Estimated Usage
The regular users of undedicated road reservations in Housing NSW’s ownership are local residents. The estimated usage is considered to be low as most undedicated road reservations provide immediate access to a small number of residences. Most of these reservations are used as shared accessways.
The regular users of undedicated pedestrian pathways in Housing NSW’s ownership are local residents. The estimated usage is considered to be low as most undedicated pathways provide local access to public facilities such as bus stops or shops.
The regular users of undedicated public reserves and playgrounds in Housing NSW’s ownership are local residents. The estimated usage is considered to be low, but is dependent on location, access, time of use, and the age profiles of local residents.
Notification Arrangements
This section describes the pesticide uses for which notice will be provided, how and when notice will be provided, arrangements for emergency pesticide applications, and situations where notice will not be given.
These notification arrangements have been developed with consideration to:
- the health risks to public users of prescribed public places in Housing NSW’s ownership;
- the degree of public access to these areas;
- the need to preserve Housing NSW’s assets in a timely manner from damage by pests, weeds or noxious plants;
- the type and amount of pesticide being used; and
- any cost-effective and viable alternatives for the management of pests, weeds or noxious plants in prescribed public places in Housing NSW’s control
Chemical applications by Housing NSW’s contractors in prescribed public places under the Organisations ownership may consist of termiticides for the control of termite damage, and selective herbicides for the control of weed growth and noxious plants.
How and when notice of pesticide use will be provided
Due to the low general usage of public places owned or controlled by Housing NSW, a standard notice and a temporary barrier will be provided by the Organisations contractor for public users at the location of application immediately prior and during the day of application, for the following pesticide uses:
- selective herbicides for the control of weed growth and noxious plants,
- in-ground termiticide treatments
Application of the chemicals will meet Housing NSW’s specified controls and requirements for compliance with relevant regulations.
Emergency pesticide applications
Where the pest or disease outbreak requires immediate action to prevent damage, or in cases where emergency pesticide applications are required to deal with biting or dangerous pests such as wasps, bees, venomous spiders, fleas, bird mites or rodents (that pose an immediate health hazard), or with plague animals, notice will be provided by Housing NSW’s contractor by a standard sign and where possible a temporary barrier placed at the location of application immediately prior and during the day of application.
Public places and pesticide uses for which notice will not be provided
No notice will be given for pesticide uses where small amounts of domestic-type pesticides products are used that are normally available in supermarkets in aerosol cans, baits, or handheld spray bottles.
Measures for sensitive places
Clause 11J(1) of the Pesticides Regulation defines a “sensitive place” to be any school or pre-school, kindergarten, childcare centre, hospital, community health centre, nursing home or place declared to be a sensitive place by the Environment Protection Authority (now the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation). Where pesticide applications occur adjacent to sensitive places, Housing NSW’s contractor will provide a written notice by placing in the letter box of a ‘sensitive place’ five (5) days before application.
What Information will be Provided
In accordance with clause 11L(2)(g) of the Pesticides Regulation, notice of pesticides uses will include the following information:
- the full product name of the pesticide to be used, and
- the purpose of the use, clearly setting out what pest or pests are being treated, and
- the proposed date/s or date range of the pesticide use, and
- the places where the pesticide is to be used, and
- contact telephone number and email address of the Council officer who people can contact to discuss the notice, and
- any warnings regarding re-entry to or use of the place, if specified on the pesticide product label or the APVMA permit.
How the Community will be Informed of this Plan
Housing NSW will advise the community of this Plan and its contents by:
- having a copy of the Plan available for viewing, free of charge, at Housing NSW’s Ashfield Head Office;
- including a copy of the Plan on the Housing NSW website;
- placing a notice in the Sydney Morning Herald; and
- placing a notice in the NSW Government Gazette
Future Reviews of this Plan
The notification Plan will be reviewed every five (5) years, or when circumstances require a review of the Plan. The review will, if required, exhibit a new plan for comment with any proposed amendments.
Contact Details
Anyone wishing to contact Housing NSW to discuss the notification Plan should phone:
Housing Contact Centre
1300 468 746