Mosquito Control

The Peel Harvey estuary and tidal areas extending into the Shire of Waroona contain many diverse habitats and is a popular recreational area for visitors and residents. However the salt marshes located in close proximity to the Lake Clifton and Preston Beach communities provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes generally can be a nuisance to people in the area but some species also carry mosquito borne diseases such as Ross River Virus and Barmah Forest Virus. These illnesses may have a serious impact on the health of those that contract them and can cause painful or swollen joints, sore muscles, skin rashes, fever, fatigue and headaches. There are no cures or vaccines for these viruses so it is very important that people take care to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes.

The Shire of Waroona is a member of the Peel Mosquito Management Group, whose main focus is the reduction of salt marsh mosquitoes in the Peel region. The mosquito management program aims to minimise breeding of mosquitoes to help protect the health of people in the area.

What you can do to reduce the risk of being bitten:

If you live in or are visiting the coastal areas of the Shire, please consider the following avoidance activities where possible or practicable.

Whenever possible, avoid being outdoors during times of increased mosquito activity, such as at dawn and dusk and;

  • Wear loose fitting clothing
  • Wear clothing that is light coloured
  • Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs
  • Apply insect repellent containing DEET

To reduce the numbers of mosquitoes around the home:

  • Ensure that rain or reticulated water is emptied from any containers (tyres, buckets, gutters etc) to remove potential breeding sites from around the house or farm
  • Ensure fly screens are maintained
  • Ensure that the vent pipes to your septic system are capped with insects screens

In addition to the above measures, there are a number of products which may be applied to surfaces around your home to assist with mosquito control. For further information, please contact your local pest control company or hardware store.

For further information on mosquito management click on the link below to Department of Health’s website.

Department of Health