As mosquito activity increases, Council has taken proactive steps to improve treatment effectiveness, enhance monitoring, and educate the community on preventive measures.
Interim CEO Paul Simpson said Council’s collaboration with SA Health is a key part of ensuring best-practice mosquito management at the Top of the Yorke.
“Council staff conduct regular mosquito monitoring and treatment from September through to April each year, and this season has been particularly challenging,” Mr Simpson said. “We recently worked with SA Health to assess our methods and implement improvements that will lead to better mosquito control outcomes.”
Following SA Health’s visit, several key upgrades to the mosquito management program have been introduced:
- New Treatment Equipment: SA Health has provided Council with a purpose-built blower, replacing manual granule spreading. This new equipment ensures better and more consistent treatment coverage, improving mosquito larvae kill rates.
- Improved Treatment Scheduling: Instead of a fixed fortnightly treatment schedule, Council will now apply treatments three days after every high tide and after significant rainfall. This change is expected to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of mosquito control efforts.
- Expanded Surveillance: Additional mosquito trapping stations will be introduced to monitor mosquito populations and identify breeding hotspots, allowing for a more targeted response.
Mr Simpson said mosquito management is an ongoing challenge, and while eradication is not possible, reducing mosquito numbers remains a priority.
“We can only control mosquitoes at the larvae stage, which is why targeted treatments and monitoring are so important,” he said.
“Beyond that stage, the focus shifts to community awareness — covering up, using repellents, and removing stagnant water are all crucial to reducing mosquito risks.”
Barunga West Council participates in SA Health’s Mosquito Surveillance and Arbovirus Prevention Program, which provides funding and resources for proactive mosquito management. Council has also taken steps to educate residents on simple measures they can take to prevent mosquito breeding around their homes.
“Mosquito control is a shared responsibility between local government, the state government, and the community,” Mr Simpson said. “Residents can help by eliminating standing water, securing rainwater tanks, and using appropriate insect protection.”
Council reports its mosquito control activities — including baiting schedules, dosage levels, and community concerns — to SA Health each month.
“We take community feedback seriously and use it to refine our approach,” Mr Simpson said. “As part of our commitment to public health, we will continue to monitor and adjust our mosquito management practices as needed.”
As development progresses in Fisherman Bay, Council’s mosquito control measures will continue to align with South Australia’s Integrated Mosquito Management Strategy (SAIMMS).
“Our participation in SA Health’s surveillance and prevention program ensures we remain proactive and adaptable in our approach,” Mr Simpson said. “We will continue to work closely with SA Health, developers, and the broader community to minimise mosquito breeding risks and protect public health.”
Residents are encouraged to take precautions by wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and ensuring water sources around their properties are well maintained.