Olympic Mozzies Face Aerial Bombardment
20 February 1998.Representatives from Parramatta and Ryde Councils were yesterday reported in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald as being "absolutely delighted" at the decision by the Olympic Co-Ordination Authority and the Bicentennial Park Trust to bombard salt marshes along the Parramatta River with a 'natural' larvicide. The decision follows concern about the recent record number of trappings of mosquitoes by the two councils.
The larvicide in question, VectoBac, is extracted from bacteria. It is already used by both Ryde and Parramatta councils, as well as by Brisbane City Council who are assisting with the spraying. It is being trialled by the two authorities as an alternative to conventional larvicides. The Bicentennial Park Trust stopped using the larvicide Abate on their site about three years ago due to concerns about its accumulation in the environment and possible detrimental effects on fishing.
The operation began at dawn yesterday (Thursday 19/2) with the Olympic Co-Ordination Authority employing a Brisbane City Council helicopter team to spray the old Newington naval base site west of Homebush Bay. Spraying will continue today with the Bicentennial Park Trust using the larvicide on wetlands on the Bicentennial Park site.
A medical entomologist from Westmead Hospital, Professor Richard Russell is reported in the SMH article as saying that the population boom in mosquitoes was caused by recent high tides, and that numbers were now decreasing again. He added that although the insects were annoying, they did not as yet carry disease. "The real question is whether disease may get introduced in the future," he is quoted as saying.
Kathryn Hughes, Cool Running Australia 20.02.98.
