Council area mossie control to continue over QN land
Date published: 11 February 2016
Aerial treatments of significant coastal mosquito breeding areas on land controlled by Queensland Nickel are set to continue under a long standing agreement with the Townsville City Council.
Council’s Healthy and Safe City Committee today backed a staff recommendation to continue the treatments in the interests of public health, despite a risk of not recovering costs from the company which was now in voluntary administration.
Committee chairman Cr Gary Eddiehausen said public health must come first.
“The council has the permission from QN to continue to treat land under their control and it’s vital that spraying continues to occur to control mosquito numbers in our community,” Cr Eddiehausen said.
“Public health is our primary concern.
“Under a long standing agreement with QN the council has billed the company on a cost recovery basis at the end of each summer season.
“With the company now in voluntary administration there is a risk of not receiving payment for treatments, but the treatments are important to protect the community from salt marsh mosquitoes (Aedes vigilax) which carry Ross River Fever and Barmah Forest Virus.
“Council staff have been in discussion with QN and they have agreed to provide council with continued access to the breeding sites for aerial treatments.
“The council will obviously continue to invoice QN for the costs of the work.”
The council has carried out seven aerial treatments that have included saltmarsh areas on QN land since September last year.
Costs for the work is normally invoiced to the company at the end of the season, but will be billed in future on a treatment by treatment basis.
This year the costs for the treatment of land held by QN total more than $30,000.
Today’s committee recommendation will go to the full council meeting on February 23 for adoption.
