On the subject of asthma :
A few years ago the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley wanted to "nuke"
(Roundup or whatever) all the typha reeds growing around Lake Kununurra
(the Ord River irrigation scheme diversion dam). One of the benefits put
forward was that the typha seeds being blown around were a trigger for
asthma. They had tried burning it but that made it look ugly!
Another problem of the typha claimed was that the seeds were blocking the
filters for the diesel power station. This was before the hydro power
station.
I sent a few letters complaining that areas such as Lily Creek lagoon
(opposite town and lined with typha) were good habitat for White-browed
Crake, Little Bittern, Black Bittern (sometimes), Little Grassbird,
Oriental Reed-warbler (wet season), Green Pygmy-goose, etc. The roundup
wouldn't have been too good for the frogs either??
I found it hard to believe that typha would be associated with asthma as
the size of the particles is so big. Would typha trigger asthma?
Frank O'Connor
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