Brisbane City Council’s aerial blitz on mozzies has taken off with helicopters to treat 1800 hectares across Brisbane from tomorrow.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Council’s expert entomologists had advised a saltmarsh mosquito hatch was imminent.
“Spring tides have created ideal hatching conditions to signify the start of saltmarsh mosquito season,” Cr Schrinner said.
“We’re putting a stop to these mozzies before they can take flight, by using helicopters to treat large areas of saltmarsh mosquito breeding grounds right across Brisbane.
“Tomorrow we will have three helicopters in the air for the first aerial spray of the season, targeting more than 1800 hectares of mozzie breeding grounds.
“This is in addition to Council’s weekly ground spraying of around 2400 freshwater mosquito sites across the city.”
On average, Council conducts 13 aerial treatments each year, for a total of about 17,700 hectares.
Each treatment is done within 1-2 days of a saltmarsh mosquito hatching appearing in samples from key indicator sites across the city.
Cr Schrinner said while increased average rainfall has delayed saltmarsh hatching and aerial treatments this year, Council remained ready to act as soon as required.
“We listen to our expert entomologists on when aerial treatments should take place and they identified early last week that forecast tides had the potential to trigger hatching,” he said.
“They were on the ground on Sunday looking for signs of hatching and we’re up in the skies this week at the optimal time to spray before they turn into adult mosquitoes and become a pest to residents.
“Brisbane’s mosquito spaying program is recognised as one of the most sophisticated in Australia, but the reality is mosquitoes exist outside of our Council boundaries.
“We’ve built good working relationships other Councils in South East Queensland and regularly share our findings to keep the mosquito population under control and our residents safe.”
Cr Schrinner reminded residents that while Council spray at every possible opportunity, there are some simple steps residents can take to reduce the risk of mosquito bites.
“When adult mosquitos are active, residents should use insect repellent, wear loose fitting, full-length, light-coloured clothing, and limit the amount of time spent in mosquito-prone areas around dusk and dawn,” he said.
“Prepare your homes during mosquito season by keeping your yards empty of any water-holding containers such as buckets, pot plants, saucers and bird baths.
“Make sure windows, and all openings on rainwater tanks, are screened; and ensure roof gutters are not blocked with leaves.”
For more information on Council’s mosquito management program or for ways you can reduce mosquitos around your home, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on 3403 8888.
