Mozzies all the buzz around coastal towns

By Sarah Schwager
THE issue of mosquito problems in Casey’s southern villages has again been raised with pesky sandflies making their way into the equation.
A report came back to Tuesday’s council meeting about introducing a mosquito management program in Casey, and it found the significant costs of such a program were not viable.
But Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler said mosquitoes were a huge problem and the issue needed to be considered more seriously.
He said no reference had been given in the report to possible diseases spread by mosquitoes, including Bairnsdale ulcer, encephalitis, with a reported case a few years ago, and Ross River fever.
“Mosquitoes are not so much an issue this year with the drought, but in the dry period sandflies are a big problem,” Cr Butler said.
“The community concern is enormous.
“Almost every resident down there has had problems with mosquitoes and sandflies recently and they expect council to do something about it.”
Cr Butler said with sandflies, the only real cure was to eliminate them.
The council report stated that the most effective strategy for eliminating mosquitoes was to interrupt the lifecycle in an effective and environmentally appropriate manner.
Cr Butler said methods used in the City of Geelong had been very effective, with the council laying traps to test when eradication was needed, as each year was different.
“The size (of the mosquitoes) is the most concerning thing,” he said.
“We could saddle ours.”
Councillors voted for council officers to present a further report on the cost of providing a mosquito management program for the southern villages and for it to be considered in the 2007-08 Budget.