Putting the bite on coast mozzies

By Jim Mynard
MOSQUITOES in the Casey’s coastal villages are in the firing line. Casey mayor Colin Butler wants something done about mozzies and midges along the coast.
He successfully asked for costing on providing a mosquito management program and for this to be referred to the 2007/08 budget.
Cr Butler said biting midges and stinging mosquitoes were a big problem.
“Although we have a dry season with less mosquitoes we have an increase in sand fly infestation,” he said.
“Community concern over this is enormous and people expect the council to do something about it.
“The only answer is to eliminate the insects. Some are so big you could saddle them,” he said.
Cr Butler asked in August for a plan to start a management program to reduce the problem.
But Casey’s acting manager of community safety, Caroline Bell, said in a report to the Tuesday 21 November council meeting that introduction of a management program along the coast would be costly.
There would be further costs if the program was extended to wetlands across the municipality.
Ms Bell said the risk of disease from mosquitoes in Casey was minimal.
A small number of mosquito species could carry diseases such as Murray Valley encephalitis, Barmah Forest fever, and Ross River fever, but incidence of the diseases was small in the southern regions of Victoria.
She said it was therefore unlikely that the council would receive grants toward a mosquito management program.