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We carry out a weed management program to:
- maintain the presentation of our public spaces like parks, reserves, sportsgrounds and streetscapes
- ensure the surfaces at these locations are safe for people using them
- manage and protect our biodiversity.
Weed management locations
From Monday 20 October 2025 to Wednesday 25 February 2026, the following sportsgrounds will be sprayed:
- Ashburton Park
- Balwyn Park - North oval
- Burwood Reserve - East
- Camberwell Sports Ground
- Canterbury Sports Ground
- Deepdene Park
- Dorothy Laver Reserve West
- Eric Raven Reserve
- Gordon Barnard Reserve - East & West
- H.A. Smith Reserve
- Hartwell Sports Ground - East
- Highfield Park - North & South
- Lewin Reserve
- Lynden Park - East & West
- Macleay Park - Oval no.1 & Oval no. 2
- Markham Reserve
- Rathmines Road Reserve
- St. James Park
- Stradbroke Park - North & South
- Victoria Park - North & South
- Victoria Road Reserve
- Warner Reserve
- Watson 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 October
- Application 2: Monday 17 November to Wednesday 26 November
- Application 3: Monday 1 December to Wednesday 10 December
- Application 4: Monday 15 December to Wednesday 24 December
- Application 5: Monday 19 January to Wednesday 28 January
- Application 6: Monday 16 February to Wednesday 25 February.
Weed management methods
We 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 beds
- pathways
- around trees and signposts
- along fences
- bluestone kerbs, channels and laneways
- biodiversity zones
- parks
- sportsgrounds
- Freeway Golf Course.
We use mechanical methods (like steaming or hand weeding) in areas such as:
- playgrounds
- childcare centres
- wetlands
- sensitive biodiversity zones
- other areas where herbicide use is not recommended.
Use of herbicides
We 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 rules
We 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 exposure
We 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 sites
- providing a letter box drop to properties in the immediate vicinity of the spraying area for sportsgrounds and large reserves
- wearing appropriate personal protective equipment during preparation and application
- applying the product in accordance with the product’s safety data sheet
- ensuring a second staff member is present when spraying larger sportsground areas to advise the public
- ensuring pressurised spraying (like knapsack spraying) occurs when wind speed is between 3 and 15km/h for most spraying operations
- avoiding pressurised spraying (like knapsack spraying) when it’s likely to rain, is raining, or when areas are wet
- maintaining accurate records of where herbicide has been applied.
‘No Glyphosate’ trial along Gardiners Creek
The 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.
Background
In 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 herbicide
- an increase in the hours spent managing weeds
- an 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 trial
The trial included all areas of open space next to Gardiners Creek, including:
- sportsgrounds
- parks
- reserves
- garden beds
- other 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 worked
During 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 environment
- use variety of approaches to maximise the impact of weed management practices
- only use chemicals where there is significant need
- that it's assessed and supported with necessary operational health and safety methods
- decisions are transparent and the community is kept informed
- decisions 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 devices
- brush cutting using battery-powered cutters where possible
- flame using Weed Dragon
- heat 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 trial
To understand the impacts and outcomes of the trial, we:
- reviewed the condition of the area before and after the trial
- measured weed coverage before and after the trial
- counted the customer requests for maintenance within the trial area
- tracked the hours spent managing weeds using the trial methods and compared it to other sites
- recorded injuries and incidents related to weed management in the trial area
- measured the amount of herbicides used
- tracked the cost of managing weeds through the trial.
More information
If you have any questions about this trial, please contact our Environmental Sustainability and Open Spaces team at [email protected] or call (03) 9278 4444.