Hardys Bay Residents Group

Stop the Mosquito Invasion!

The long awaited report on Mosquito Control was presented to Gosford Council on 7^th February this year, some 18 months after a petition from residents of Killcare requested the council’s support to find a solution to the mosquito problem in the area.  

The report by the Department of Medical Entomology at Westmead Hospital found:

• The Saltmarsh Mosquito, one of the worst biting and disease carrying mosquitoes in coastal NSW, was extremely abundant particularly along the escarpment from Killcare Heights to Pretty Beach .
• Large populations of larvae were found in the Empire Bay wetlands
• A treatment program of wetlands of Empire Bay would reduce nuisance biting in the Killcare Heights to Pretty Beach areas
• Such nuisance biting has a negative impact on the standard of living in the community and may contribute to economic impacts on residential and recreational developments
• These mosquitoes transmit both Ross River and Barmah Forest virus diseases causing significant health impacts
• The control agent (B.t.i) is highly specific to mosquito larvae and reported to have very few non-target effects. It has been used successfully to reduce populations of the saltmarsh mosquito at Sydney Olympic Park and in South East Queensland .

And recommended that:

• Gosford City Council undertake a pilot application of control agents B.t.i. or methoprene to the Empire Bay wetlands in early 2006

However, the Gosford Council’s Natural Resources officer does not support the findings of the report, suggesting that an education program may assist in modifying resident and visitor behaviour to reduce the nuisance and the Council’s Environmental Assessment Officer recommends investigating alternative strategies

So the recommendations put to council were:

• Council not proceed with the pilot trial
• Council develop an information package to encourage residents and visitors to use personal protection methods

At the Gosford Council meeting of 7^th February 2006, councillors asked for an assessment of the cost of a trial as recommended by the experts.   Costs have since been estimated to be some $40,000.

Council will shortly consider whether to implement the trial as recommended by the experts from Westmead Hospital .   If the residents of Hardys Bay and surrounding areas want action on mosquito control, now is the time to make our views known to the councillors.

To read full report (6 Mb)....Click here                                            To read about the original petition....Click here