A galvanised but hurt Mornington Peninsula community came out in force yesterday seeking answers for a government blunder that left their whole community and environment vulnerable to dangerous chemical sprays.
Federal ministers Greg Hunt, local member Chris Brayne and Mornington Peninsula mayor David Gill could not explain to residents including a beekeeper that lost hives to poison why spraying in March was able to occur without community consent.
Study leader professor Stinear was under the impression that residents in the three streets that were sprayed with dangerous chemical #Bifinthrin signed a waiver but shire Mayor David Gill had to finally #apologise to his constituents and admit that the shire didn’t even know until recently the spraying had occurred.
The apology has not been excepted by beekeeper William Holmes or the residents living in the streets that were sprayed. The negligence is being investigated and those effected have not ruled out legal action.
Professor Stinear was jeered by the crowd when he was asked what chemicals were used and he responded
“the chemicals are not that bad they are used in other places in Australia and sometimes even on the food you eat”
Experts in the local community including local doctors, a pathology nurse and ulcer victims provided the wisdom the community needed. Federal minister Greg Hunt thanked them for their input and was going to work immediately on their suggestions.
Early detection is necessary, pathology needs to be more efficient and doctors better educated in diagnosing the ulcer and the $300,000 allocated to spraying could be better spent elsewhere.
Both doctors explained that there has been a sizeable reduction in cases of the Buruli ulcer this year.
The doctors were critical of the images and statistics used by professors receiving the funds as alarmist and not representative of the majority of ulcers. The doctors explained the extreme cases referred to in images resulted because of initial incorrect diagnosis. If detected early it could be treated by a dose of antibiotics. Some images used in the presentation were from Buruli in Africa where the doctors had explained the infections had suddenly disappeared.
Professor Stinear admitted to the doctors that despite being able to inoculate animals with the ulcer via contaminated mosquitoes under laboratory conditions there was still no proof mosquitoes could transfer the ulcer to humans.
Environmental experts Gidja Walker and Judy Muir put forward a theory that disturbed soil could be to blame and that a similar outbreak of ulcers had occurred in Phillip Island after major soil disturbance. Judy Muir saw a correlation between the failed beach restoration at Portsea where clay soil was bought in from near Bairnsdale after the channel depending project caused major erosion issues.
To the delight of residents David Gill announced that he is working on non chemical mosquito intervention with Professor Stinear that will involve community vigilance to make sure there is no stagnant water on resident’s properties.
There is a Shire meeting on Tuesday to resolve the issue and announce a variation to the study.
Thanks for the organisers of the event Paul, Kelvin and Roslyn.
Apologies for the hundreds of people who could not enter the hall because the halls capacity was only 400. It was estimated over 200 people could not fit in.
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