Your Responsibility as a Resident

Council has a program for controlling mosquito breeding on state and Council owned land, but residents and businesses must take measures to ensure that mosquito breeding does not take place in their backyards.

Mosquitoes breed in anything that is likely to hold water, so by removing pools of waste water around your home you can prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Checklists

The checklists below suggest measures you can take to ensure that your backyard is not breeding mosquitoes.

The responsibility of controlling mosquitoes at your home lies with you.

Where Do Mosquitoes Breed?

Weekly Inspection Checklist

• Inspect your house and yard for pools of accumulated water. Empty these.
• Dispose of all tins, jars, tyres and other rubbish items that may hold water.
• Put sand around the bases of pot plants to absorb water in the dish. For outdoor pot plants you could dispose of the dish altogether.
• Empty all flower vases and other containers that hold water. Thoroughly wipe the inside of containers with a cloth to remove mosquito eggs. Destroy the cloth after use by placing in the bin. Do not wash the cloth as it will spread the eggs.
• Use a high pressure spray from a garden hose to kill mosquito larvae which breed in plants that hold pools of water, such as bromeliads.
• Empty bird baths and pet drinking water at least once a week and scrub containers thoroughly to remove eggs.

Prevent Mosquito Breeding Areas On Your Property

• Drill holes in tyres used for swings and garden surrounds to allow water to drain from them.
• Fill in any water holding cavities in trees, hollows, depressions and holes in the yard with soil or cement.
• Cap brick walls made of cavity bricks to prevent water from pooling in the walls.
• Screen all openings to tanks, wells or other large water containers with wire gauze no coarser than 1mm mesh. This prevents mosquitoes from laying eggs. Cut back and trim trees to prevent leaves and debris from blocking roof guttering.
• Remove leaves and debris from gutters and ensure they are in good repair so that the pools of water do not form.
• Stock ponds with fish. Goldfish and native Australian fish are recommended. Keep the side of ponds clear from water weeds so the fish can get to the larvae.
• Overturn boats, canoes and dinghies or remove the drain plug so that they do not hold water after rain.
• Empty children's wading pools after use and clean thoroughly with a cloth to remove mosquito eggs.
• Dispose of waste water in such a way that does not cause ponding.
• Ensure open drains and channels are free from obstructions, especially weeds, grass, and other debris.
• Ensure swimming pools are chlorinated or salted and filtered regularly as per the manufacturer’s instructions. If your pool has been neglected for any period of time, for any reason, arrange for a qualified pool technician to check and maintain your pool. For more information read Swimming Pools and Spas: Are You Breeding Mosquitoes? (PDF, 213.0 KB).
• Stock dams on your property with native fish and keep the sides clear of water plants. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries can recommend which species of fish to use.

Boats can collect water and breed mosquitoes unless they are tipped upside down, or correctly positioned using a jockey wheel to allow all water to flow out with the bungs removed.	Tyres will collect water and are a perfect breeding site for mosquitoes. Be sure to dispose of them if possible or drill holes in them to allow water to drain out.

Mosquito Repellent Plants

Did you know some plants and herbs grown in many gardens have the potential to repel mossies? Try these suggested plants to see if they work:

Mosquito Repellent Plants (PDF, 581.2 KB)

For more information, please contact the Environmental Health and Regulatory Services Team on 13 48 10.