Mosquito Management Plan

2014-2019

Health, Security and Regulatory Services 2014

Mosquito Management Plan 2014-2019 Page 1

Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2

Mosquito management strategies .......................................................................................................... 3

Site monitoring and treatment ............................................................................................................... 4

Reporting ................................................................................................................................................ 5

Public education ...................................................................................................................................... 8

Emergency response ............................................................................................................................... 9

Key Performance Indicators .................................................................................................................. 10

Resources .............................................................................................................................................. 11

Mosquito Management Plan 2014-2019 Page 2

Introduction Ipswich is a land-bound council region with two major water bodies flowing through it, the Brisbane

and Bremer Rivers. There is an abundance of parklands, freshwater lakes and creek systems, open

drainage systems and low-lying areas. The Ipswich City Council region is approximately 1100 square

kilometres with more than 5,000 hectares of open space and more than 500 different parks and

reserves maintained by Council. These environments provide an abundance of suitable breeding

grounds for mosquitoes.

In September 2010, Council endorsed the Mosquito Management Plan 2010-2012 for the

City, emphasising the importance that healthy communities play in Council’s vision. Through

strategy CSW 4.1 of Ipswich 2020 and Beyond, Council is committed to “ensure that all

residents have ready access to health care, intervention and prevention services, health

education services and facilities and utilise the services necessary to create and maintain a

healthy living community.” This is supported by the development of the Mosquito

Management Plan 2014-2019.

This plan has been developed to satisfy the requirements in the Mosquito Management

Code of Practice, as well as Council’s responsibilities under the Public Health Act 2005.

Areas covered in this Plan include:

Mosquito management strategies;

Site monitoring and treatment;

Reporting;

Public education; and

Emergency response

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Mosquito management strategies This Plan has been developed to monitor and regulate the incidence of arboviruses within the

community. This can be achieved by a number of processes.

Utilise complaints as a point of reference to conduct inspections;

Monitor breeding sites for mosquito population abundance, including trapping and

identification of mosquito species;

Utilise notifications from external agencies such as Queensland Institute of Medical

Research (QIMR) and Queensland Health (QH);

Conduct treatments as required and investigate alternate control methods and

habitat modification;

Utilised property management plan for industrial areas and large scale properties.

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Site monitoring and treatment Regular site monitoring of existing and emergent breeding sites will assist in determining the

appropriate response and treatment. Monitoring and treatment carried out by the Vector

Management officers can include:

Mosquito larvae count and identification through dipping and collection;

Adult mosquito collection and identification through effective light trapping;

Apply appropriate treatments. Investigate alternatives and improving substitutes for

control, for example, habitat modification and biological control.

Before and After - Habitat Modification

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Reporting Council’s Mosquito Management Plan is to be reviewed on an annual basis to maintain strategic

direction.

These reports will cover topics such as:

1. Climatic conditions effect of mosquito breeding;

Rainfall amounts have a direct and significant impact on the treatment areas within the Ipswich City

Council area. Above average rainfall of a series of months will result in greater areas requiring

treatment. Analysing these factors assist in determining appropriate responses by Vector Control

Officers.

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2. Identified species and spatial distribution;

Regular identification assists in Council’s awareness of current mosquito populations. Identifying

existing species allows Council prepare appropriate necessary notifications and public notices.

3. Customer service request summary;

Customer requests are received regarding problems with mosquitos breeding on both residential

and Council land on a regular basis. This prompts varying levels of investigations and treatments.

Annual totals assist in determining problem areas and new potential treatment sites.

4. Disease notification update; and

Notifications provided by Queensland Health and other agencies are utilised to identify areas of

interest and may be used to prompt specific action.

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5. Operational program update.

In order to deliver performance outcomes, specific areas are investigated. This approach is designed

to achieve maximum efficiency and target problem areas. This approach provides high level

focussed analysis of particular aspects of the Plan.

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Public education Community engagement and increasing awareness regarding personal precautionary measures will

assist in community tolerance and avoidance of pest mosquitoes. Effective marketing and public

health message will ensure the Ipswich residents are aware of the risks of mosquitoes including

backyard mosquito breeding sites and general nuisance times.

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Emergency response In the event of a disaster, Council will enact its Disaster Management Plan. For mosquito outbreaks,

the Public Health sub-plan will be enacted. In the event of an outbreak, for example Dengue Fever,

Ipswich City Council will follow the State’s direction under the Dengue Management Plan.

Council’s Vector Management Officers are equipped with the knowledge and equipment to respond

to potential outbreaks.

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Key Performance Indicators 1. Improved disease reporting mechanisms.

2. Stakeholder engagement for improved surveillance, reporting, community health initiatives,

marketing, and disaster response.

3. Monitor and review mosquito breeding site identification and control techniques,

documenting potential improvements in control efficiency and effectiveness.

4. Conduct an annual review of the Mosquito Management program

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Resources Visit Council’s website at www.ipswich.qld.gov.au for more information. Alternatively, you can also

contact Council’s Health, Security and Regulatory Services Department on 07 3810 6666.

This Plan has been developed with regard to Councils obligations under:

Public Health Act 2005;

Public Health Regulations 2005;

Mosquito Management Code of Practice - Local Government Association of Queensland;

Queensland Joint Strategic Framework for Mosquito Management 2010-2015 - Queensland

Government