Above: Warneet kids Rye, Riley, Billy, Matilda and Ryan are upset that they cannot use their new playground because of the massive sandfly and mosquito problem. Picture: Stewart Chambers.
By Sarah Schwager
SANDFLIES and mosquitoes are wreaking havoc on Casey’s coastal villages as locals desperately lobby to have them sprayed.
In the worst season ever, according to residents and the local councillor, Blind Bight, Cannons Creek and Warneet are almost a no-go zone as people try to escape the vicious bloodsuckers.
Residents are concerned about the health risks as well as the impact on tourism as people are forced to escape the outdoors this summer.
Despite Casey Council recently allocating $100,000 in its budget for the spraying of the insects, a series of government clearances must be met before spraying can begin.
Warneet resident Granger Barnett, who owns Warneet Bait and Tackle, said the insects were having a devastating effect on the town.
He said barely a day went by when someone didn’t enter his store with itchy and sometimes infected bites covering their legs.
“This is without a doubt the worst season we have ever seen,” Mr Barnett said.
New playground equipment has just been installed in Warneet for local and visiting children, but locals say the kids cannot use it because of the plague of bugs that has surfaced this summer.
“I watch people in the park constantly scratching and regularly complaining about the sandflies and now people want to know why the spraying hasn’t begun,” Mr Barnett said.
“Fishermen, locals and kids are ending up sick and laid up at home from infections and reactions to them.
“It is just a matter of time before we encounter issues with Ross River virus, and any other diseases spread by mosquitoes, and the health of the local dogs and cats with regard to heartworm.”
On 24 October, the council allocated $100,000 for the spraying of mosquitoes and sandflies in the coastal suburbs.
However, Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler said the council still needed approval from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
“I don’t understand it. We met all the same criteria as the City of Geelong and they got Federal and State Government clearance all right,” Cr Butler said.
“But the DSE is now saying they are not sure whether we can spray.
“Meanwhile, we are facing the worst year ever. Last year we had sandflies, but not mosquitoes. It’s just terrible.”
Cr Butler said it now looked like the council may not find out whether approval had been given until February or March.
“The money is just sitting there waiting to be used,” he said.
“We have a brand new playground, which is fantastic for people to come down and use for the day, but now people have to be careful.
“We grow the mosquitoes so big out here if you get 10 or 20 of them they’d just about fly one of the kids away.”
Casey community safety and support manager Caroline Bell said the council was aware of the problems with sandflies, biting midges and mosquitoes.
“An allocation of $100,000 was made at the council meeting of 24 October,” Ms Bell said.
“However, it is unlikely that there will be any spraying this year as permission needs to be granted by both the State and Federal Governments, community consultation undertaken and then tenders for the program due to the specialised nature of the work.”
The DSE did not reply to the News before it went to print.
