On this page Content components We carry out a weed management program to:maintain the presentation of our public spaces like parks, reserves, sportsgrounds and streetscapesensure the surfaces at these locations are safe for people using themmanage and protect our biodiversity.Weed management locationsFrom Monday 20 October 2025 to Wednesday 25 February 2026, the following sportsgrounds will be sprayed:Ashburton ParkBalwyn Park - North ovalBurwood Reserve - EastCamberwell Sports GroundCanterbury Sports GroundDeepdene ParkDorothy Laver Reserve WestEric Raven ReserveGordon Barnard Reserve - East & WestH.A. Smith ReserveHartwell Sports Ground - EastHighfield Park - North & SouthLewin ReserveLynden Park - East & WestMacleay Park - Oval no.1 & Oval no. 2Markham ReserveRathmines Road ReserveSt. James ParkStradbroke Park - North & SouthVictoria Park - North & SouthVictoria Road ReserveWarner ReserveWatson Park.The applications will take place for 30 minutes at some point between the hours of 8 pm and 3 am on the following dates:Application 1: Monday 20 October to Wednesday 29 OctoberApplication 2: Monday 17 November to Wednesday 26 NovemberApplication 3: Monday 1 December to Wednesday 10 DecemberApplication 4: Monday 15 December to Wednesday 24 DecemberApplication 5: Monday 19 January to Wednesday 28 JanuaryApplication 6: Monday 16 February to Wednesday 25 February.Weed management methodsWe use a range of methods to manage weeds across our parks, gardens and reserves depending on the location and types of weeds present.We rely on a combination of mechanical and chemical methods to reduce weed growth in our parks, sportsgrounds, open spaces and garden beds.We use herbicides (including spot treatments) in areas such as:garden bedspathwaysaround trees and signpostsalong fencesbluestone kerbs, channels and lanewaysbiodiversity zonesparkssportsgroundsFreeway Golf Course.We use mechanical methods (like steaming or hand weeding) in areas such as:playgroundschildcare centreswetlandssensitive biodiversity zonesother areas where herbicide use is not recommended.Use of herbicidesWe use targeted spraying to control weeds in these large or hard-to-reach areas. Trained contractors apply herbicide directly to the weeds to reduce the amount of chemical used. Glyphosate is the main product used, but we also trial organic and plant-based options where suitable. Spraying only happens in safe weather conditions and follows strict safety rulesWe always follow best practice and apply the product in line with the product and label guidelines to ensure our community and staff are safe.All herbicides we use are considered safe when used according to their guidelines and are regulated by the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994.Minimising exposureWe minimise exposure to our community and staff by:informing our community about spraying programs before and during herbicide application by placing signage near the spray sitesproviding a letter box drop to properties in the immediate vicinity of the spraying area for sportsgrounds and large reserveswearing appropriate personal protective equipment during preparation and applicationapplying the product in accordance with the product’s safety data sheetensuring a second staff member is present when spraying larger sportsground areas to advise the publicensuring pressurised spraying (like knapsack spraying) occurs when wind speed is between 3 and 15km/h for most spraying operationsavoiding pressurised spraying (like knapsack spraying) when it’s likely to rain, is raining, or when areas are wetmaintaining accurate records of where herbicide has been applied. ‘No Glyphosate’ trial along Gardiners CreekThe trial ran from December 2022 to April 2025 and tested alternative ways to manage weeds without glyphosate. You can read more in our news article about the end of the trial.Moving forward, Council will continue a weed management approach that reduces herbicide use where possible. Alternative techniques will be used alongside glyphosate to manage weeds effectively across open spaces. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has declared glyphosate safe to use when the instructions on the label are followed.BackgroundIn August 2022, Councillors decided to trial weed management practises that didn’t use glyphosate along Gardiners Creek. This decision was made because some community members expressed concerns about the use of glyphosate.We ran a one-year trial from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023. We presented a report on the results of the trial to Councillors at the Council meeting on Monday 22 April 2024.The report showed that the condition of the trial areas were similar to before the trial began.The report also showed the trial area had:a decrease in the amount of herbicidean increase in the hours spent managing weedsan increase in the cost of managing weeds.Based on these findings, Councillors decided to extend the trial for one more year so that we could collect more data. The extended trial was due to finish at the end of spring 2024 and was extended again to 2025. You can read the full report and watch the Council meeting on our Council meeting 22 April event page.At a Council meeting on Monday 13 October 2025, Councillors resolved to stop the trial, as data from the trial period showed higher weed levels and increased labour costs in trial areas compared with non-trial locations. The full report from the 13 October Council meeting is available to read. Where we ran the trialThe trial included all areas of open space next to Gardiners Creek, including:sportsgroundsparksreservesgarden bedsother biodiversity areas. This map shows the weed management trial area highlighted in yellow, running beside Gardiners Creek on the boundary between Boroondara and Stonnington councils How the trial workedDuring the trial, we tested different ways to manage weeds safely and effectively while reducing chemical use. We ran the trial based on the following principles:avoid negative impacts on human health and the environmentuse variety of approaches to maximise the impact of weed management practicesonly use chemicals where there is significant needthat it's assessed and supported with necessary operational health and safety methodsdecisions are transparent and the community is kept informeddecisions on herbicide and pesticide use are based on advice from industry government authorities such as Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.Different weed management methods were used depending on the conditions of each zone. The different methods included:hand weeding using knives, hand mattocks or appropriate weeding devicesbrush cutting using battery-powered cutters where possibleflame using Weed Dragonheat treatment using Heatweed Mid 3.0 Unit (4WD mounted)spot spraying herbicide including Starane, Fusilade, Kamba, Basta, Associate, wetting agent BS1000 and Envirodye.How we assessed the trialTo understand the impacts and outcomes of the trial, we:reviewed the condition of the area before and after the trialmeasured weed coverage before and after the trialcounted the customer requests for maintenance within the trial areatracked the hours spent managing weeds using the trial methods and compared it to other sitesrecorded injuries and incidents related to weed management in the trial areameasured the amount of herbicides usedtracked the cost of managing weeds through the trial.More informationIf you have any questions about this trial, please contact our Environmental Sustainability and Open Spaces team at [email protected] or call (03) 9278 4444.
