THE bloodsuckers are almost back.
Residents of Casey’s coastal villages are preparing as mosquito season makes its way around again.
Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler wants to see a mosquito management program put in place to stop the nasty flying insects from spreading deadly diseases.
Cr Butler said foreshores with wetlands were a breeding ground for mosquitos.
“It doesn’t matter what the cost is. This is for the good health of our residents,” he said.
At last week’s council meeting, councillors carried a motion to investigate the costs of implementing a mosquito management program for the coastal areas.
Cr Butler said the council should consider the City of Greater Geelong’s mosquito management policy as well as those of the other six local government authorities in Victoria that engaged in mosquito management controls.
He said there had already been cases of Ross River fever and Bairnsdale ulcer, which are spread through mosquito bites, reported in the past in Casey’s coastal villages.
“If there is the chance of ailments, we should do something about it,” he said.
Cannons Creek Foreshore Committee president Bill D’Oliveira said residents had been lobbying for some sort of action to control mosquitos for many years.
Mr D’Oliveira said aerial spraying was the most viable option as it only affected mosquitos and not other plant or animal life.
“They are a plague. They’re not as bad as they used to be but they are still very heavy,” he said.
He said as soon as the damp weather stopped the mosquitos would be back in force.
Warneet Residents Association member Harry Balmer investigated and brought the issue before the association to assess what could be done to reduce the number of mosquitos along the coast.
The group will now letter drop to encourage residents to reduce still water around their homes.
“Many people don’t realise that the biggest breeding grounds are in their backyard,” Mr Balmer said.
Naree Ide, Neighbourhood Watch secretary and Warneet resident, said mosquitos were a huge problem in Warneet during the warmer months and she supported looking at various ways to rid the area of the pests.
“We need something to get rid of those monsters,” she said.
“They’re big enough to wear saddles.”
– Sarah Schwager
