Lysterfield South resident and mother of three Wendy Duyker, with children Eden, Jane and Linton, said local councils should consider becoming chemically free.By Rebecca Fraser
LYSTERFIELD South resident Wendy Duyker has been trying to live chemically free for more than four years.
But the mother of three said this had become increasingly difficult as local councils and authorities continued to use chemicals on roadsides and near drains.
Ms Duyker has written a book called Detox Your Home, Body and Mind because she is concerned about the impact chemicals have on humans and the environment.
“In trying to maintain a chemicalfree life I am often disappointed by our council’s lack of thought, concern and foresight in carrying out widespread chemical poisoning of drains, waterways and public land near schools, park areas, roadsides and freeways,” Ms Duyker said.
She said as a result of this, flora and fauna was dying, and the environment was being polluted, which set a poor example to consumers.
She also said council workers were often seen without face masks or protective clothing,
“Spray drift affects pedestrians, residents, motorists, animals, air, water and the environment.
“Why do our councils continue to poison our suburbs?” she said.
Ms Duyker said she was not picking specifically on Casey Council but believes all municipalities and governments need to look at their use of chemicals.
“Local councils and the government sprout environmental concerns,” she said.
“They need to have a long look at the short and longterm effects on humans and the environment.”
Ms Duyker said this had been an issue for a long time and it was important for her to live free from chemicals.
“I just want local councils to become more environmentally aware about the impact chemicals have on residents,” she said.
Ms Duyker said that her life had changed since she began living chemically free.
“My main message is that we are surrounded by chemicals from when we wake and when we sleep, from when we are born to when we die,” she said.
“It is in our food, our cleaners, our skincare, and we all end up with allergies, illness and cancer.
“We should try to cut them down or even eliminate chemicals from our lives.”
Ms Duyker said this was a personal opinion and not based on scientific fact.
“Since I have started eating organic fruit and vegetables my immune system has been stronger and I have had less colds,” she said.
Ms Duyker said councils should be looking at different solutions instead of using chemicals.
“We need better solutions such as manual methods and other sorts of weed management and we need to learn, research and start to think about this,” she said.
