Living on the bay at Sandgate
The saltmarsh next door
Boondall Wetlands, Brisbane's largest at about 1,150 hectares, sit on the edge of Moreton Bay between Boondall, Nudgee Beach and Shorncliffe. Saltmarsh like this is where the saltmarsh mosquito breeds.
Why a big tide matters
Eggs lie dormant on damp mud until a high tide or heavy rain covers them. In warm months they can reach adulthood in five to six days, and adults can disperse at least 10 km.
What the council does
Brisbane City Council manages more than 20,000 hectares of coastal breeding areas and treats larvae, often a few days after a high tide. It doesn't target adult mosquitoes.
An old town
The State Library of Queensland dates Sandgate's first land sales to 9 November 1853 and lists homes such as Morven from 1863, Saltwood from 1870, and Caversham and Clutha from 1882.
Which mosquito are you dealing with?
| Saltmarsh mosquito | Backyard container mosquito | |
|---|---|---|
| Breeds in | Coastal saltmarsh and tidal mud | Bird baths, pot plant saucers, tyres and tanks |
| What sets it off | A big tide or heavy rain | Any small amount of stagnant water |
| What helps | Council's larvae treatment, plus staying in at dusk | Emptying that water yourself |
Older bayside houses and termites
Damp is the issue to watch on a block near the water. The QBCC says termites seek moisture, so clear water pooling in gutters and around the house, fix leaking pipes and taps, and move any wood touching the ground.
If you see mud tubes or soft timber, take a photo and leave them be. The inspector needs them intact, and any termite treatment here takes a QBCC licence as well as a pest management licence.
A building and pest inspection on an older Sandgate home is worth taking slowly. The building inspector covers the structure, and the timber pest side is the part we pass on.
Fire ants on the bayside
If you think you've found fire ants, keep kids and dogs away and tell Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours, by law, on the phone or online. It's a report, not something for our form.
Our take on pests in Sandgate
Clear the water you control, and keep early evenings indoors for a few days after a king tide. For everything else, tell us what you've seen and that you're in 4017.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
