Liverpool mayor in mozzie spat with NSW government

Liverpool City Council mayor Ned Mannoun is demanding compensation from the NSW Government for the mosquito invasion that hit southwest Sydney recently.

Described by locals as a “plague”, the mozzie crisis spread alarm throughout the community forcing council to step in. Mosquitoes can transmit a number of serious human diseases. In NSW, some mosquitoes transmit viruses such as Japanese encephalitis, Ross River, Barmah Forest, Kunjin and Murray Valley encephalitis.

In response to the outcry, council investigated the source of the problem tracing it back to a government-owned Sydney Water recycling plant.

After inspections, experts confirmed the site was the “primary source” of the outbreak as large settlement ponds were covered with vegetation which provided the perfect conditions for the insects to breed. 

“Sydney Water had allowed its eight-hectare settling pond at Warwick Farm to become overgrown with a prohibited weed that became an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes,” Mannoun said. “It is now well known that Sydney Water did not start taking action to solve the issue until Liverpool Council – in order to help its residents – reported its concerns to Sydney Water on 31 October.”

Mannoun questioned why the corporation allowed the infestation to occur. “It’s disappointing Sydney Water allowed its settlement pond to become overgrown with the prohibited plant frogbit, and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” he said.

To deal with the irritating insects Sydney Water treated the ponds with larvicide and removed the frogbit weed from the site. Having sampled the ponds, NSW Health Pathology has since found mosquito numbers to have decreased significantly since peak plague in October and early November.

However, mozzies that originated from the Sydney Water plant have been found to be breeding in surrounding habitats such as neglected swimming pools.

“Council is continuing to work with property owners to address these secondary breeding areas and is continuing its spraying program at council facilities,” said Mannoun, adding:  “This is a massive undertaking by council to try to lessen the effects of a huge mosquito swarm that’s been causing havoc in the area.”