Nothing sucks more than mosquitoes, but fears that a wet summer could lead to an increase in the insects has sparked fresh concerns among Council.
Predicting it to be a “significant mozzie season,” City of Parramatta Councillors have discussed an initial mosquito education campaign at a recent Council meeting for this upcoming summer.
Parramatta Councillor Kellie Darley said she’s already beginning to see many “mozzies” impact the local area.
“I live in Rydalmere and I’m already being attacked by mozzies. They’re out in force,” she said.
A new website with key messages, including a link to a digital brochure/factsheet, and social media posts will be created to help spread information on how residents can prepare for mosquito season and ‘beat the bite’.
Cr Darley said there are a range of things that residents can do to reduce mosquitoes breeding, such as clearing out gutters and not storing water outside.
However, she raised concerns that not everyone would be able to access information spread by the Council, stating that she believes the mosquito education campaign shouldn’t just be delivered online.
Agreeing with Cr Darley, Cr Patricia Prociv said that not everyone is on social media or has an email address.
Identifying Silverwater as a key area, Cr Prociv believes businesses in particular need to be educated on how to reduce the breeding of mosquitoes.
“[Workers are] there eight hours a day, the residents are there day and night… some residents have been affected so badly [by mosquitoes] that they go to hospital, particularly the children living around Silverwater,” she said.
“Most of that is not just the mosquitoes from the river but the mosquitoes breeding from industrial areas.”
Not only a “major pest” whose bite can sometimes result in an allergic reaction, mosquitoes are also known to carry major diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, which can cause severe neurological illness.
With La Nina having bought record rain levels across Sydney, a Council report said increased water in the area will provide a great habitat for mosquitoes.
Because of this, it is anticipated that locals will see a “high level” of mosquitoes this season as the weather warms.
The Parramatta River Catchment currently holds the NSW record for the most number of saltmarsh mosquitoes collected in a single trap, as part of the NSW Arbovirus Surveillance Program.
Australian Backyard Mosquitoes are also prominent in the area, with City of Parramatta holding the record for the highest number of the insects trapped as part of the same program.
In February 2020, close to 30,000 saltmarsh mosquitoes were trapped in Silverwater.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.