Every morning, Charlotte Thaarup walks the tracks of Blackbutt Reserve, a daily ritual she says has given her a deep sense of responsibility to protect it.
So when she discovered City of Newcastle was using glyphosate herbicides to control weeds at the reserve, she wanted to push the council to find safer alternatives.
"I really didn't think they were spraying that there, to be honest. I was quite shocked," Ms Thaarup said.
Glyphosate has been used to control weeds in Australia for more than 40 years and is the active ingredient in hundreds of registered herbicide products.
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer published a report that classified glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans'.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), which regulates chemical products, reviewed the report and found there was no reliable evidence that products containing glyphosate pose a risk of causing cancer in humans.
Ms Thaarup said she questioned a council worker spraying weeds in May after noticing a tank labelled 'Roundup'. She later spoke with the reserve's head ranger, who told her glyphosate remained in the plant and was the most cost-effective option.
"I really thought, 'cost-effective? Is it for the long-term problem?" she said.
"This is a lung of Newcastle, Blackbutt. Do we seriously not want to give nature a chance in this area?"
Ms Thaarup took her concerns to Newcastle Greens councillor Charlotte McCabe.
Cr McCabe said council staff told her the product being used at Blackbutt was incorrectly labelled and was actually a product called Eraze 360 Bi-Aquatic.
"Not all glyphosate products are the same," Cr McCabe said.
"There are significant differences between general glyphosate formulations and aquatic formulations like Eraze 360, which do not contain the same surfactants and other additional chemicals."
Cr McCabe said the council decided to systematically phase out the use of glyphosate in 2019, restricting it "strictly" to exceptional circumstances for target weed control.
"Non-chemical weed control methods are and should be used as a standard practice for bush care, alongside chemical control when required," she said.
"Alternative methods have been and continue to be explored and are used wherever possible."
A City of Newcastle spokesman said the council has trialled several alternatives to reduce glyphosate use but would continue using a limited number of glyphosate products until other suitable options become available.
"We will continue to monitor reviews of the use of glyphosate to ensure our methods remain consistent with industry best practice, ensuring the safety of our workforce, the community and the environment," he said.
While Lake Macquarie City Council continues to use some glyphosate products, Wollongong has banned its use around playgrounds and Fairfield phased out Roundup in 2019.
The APVMA considers registered glyphosate products safe when used according to label directions.
An APVMA spokeswoman said it will continue to consider new evidence as it becomes available.
"Where credible new evidence indicates a potential risk to human health, the environment, trade or product safety, the APVMA can take regulatory action, including reconsidering approvals, registrations or label conditions," she said.
Ms Thaarup wants the council to phase out the use of glyphosate completely.
"This just seems like it could bring hope to people if council listened to this, and in Newcastle, I hope we could lead, not lag, on this," she said.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said councils must comply with label instructions and notify the public before spraying in outdoor areas such as parks and ovals.
