November 21st 2024.
A major mosquito outbreak in south-west Sydney has been successfully contained thanks to a round-the-clock operation. The surge in mosquito populations near Chipping Norton, suspected to be linked to the oxiponds at the Liverpool Water Resource Recovery Facility, was reported to Sydney Water by Liverpool Council in late October. Working together, Sydney Water and the council were able to tackle the issue head on.
Within just two weeks, the team was able to remove nearly 100 per cent of the frogbit, a floating water weed, from the ponds. This yielded impressive results, with field assessments across ten of the 12 treatment sites showing a 98 per cent reduction in mosquito larvae since November 8. Sydney Water's water resource recovery lead, Sally Rewell, shared the exciting news, stating, "In areas where the frogbit vegetation persisted, we saw a drop in mosquito larvae counts from 400 to nearly zero."
The success of the operation was further confirmed by field surveys, which showed a significant decrease of over 90 per cent in airborne mosquitoes around the plant. And the team is not stopping there - they expect to see even more progress in the next two weeks. The key to their success? Specialised machinery, including excavators, sucker trucks, boats, and even a helicopter, was used to remove the vegetation and carry out ground and aerial spraying with larvicides.
Rewell praised the hard work and dedication of the crews involved, stating that they worked tirelessly day after day to eliminate mosquito habitats and treat breeding areas. And their efforts have paid off, as Medical Entomology NSW health pathology Associate Professor Cameron Webb confirmed that adult mosquito numbers have dramatically declined compared to last week's collections. This is due to the ongoing reduction in mosquitoes emerging from the oxiponds through weed removal and larvicide treatments.
Webb explained, "Larval sampling in the oxiponds recorded a further decline in mosquito abundance and an approximate further 50 per cent reduction from last Wednesday." This is a testament to the effectiveness of the operation and the collaborative efforts of all involved. Over 50 people, working seven days a week, have been dedicated to getting rid of the pests, and their hard work has paid off.
Rewell expressed her gratitude for the team's efforts, stating, "This has been a focused operation, with everyone giving their all around the clock." And for those looking to stay updated on the latest news, sport, politics, and weather, the 9News app is available for download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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