Why water runs the show in Pimpama
A low floodplain
City of Gold Coast says the Pimpama River runs east under the Pacific Motorway through low ground that's mainly sugar cane farms. Tidal floodgates sit between the salt and fresh water, and they've failed when debris wedged the flaps open.
Saltmarsh on the estuary
Pimpama River Conservation Area, on Green Meadows Road, holds mangroves, saltmarsh, swamp oak and paperbark forest. Salt marshes go under only at the highest tides, then hold water, and Queensland's salt marsh mosquito breeds after spring tides and heavy rain.
A rat that isn't a pest
The same reserve is home to the vulnerable False Water Rat. All native wildlife is protected under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992, so a small rat near the water is worth a photo before anyone talks about baiting it.
Fire ants
Suspect mounds get reported, never treated through us: to Biosecurity Queensland, within 24 hours under Queensland law. Don't dig into one or hose it out.
After big rain in Pimpama
Walk the block within the week
Mosquito eggs need standing water for about a week to finish developing, so tip out saucers, buckets and anything else that's holding water before then.
Clear the gutters
The council asks residents to keep house gutters clear so they drain. A sagging gutter holds water long after the rain stops.
Look along the slab
Check the slab edge and weep holes for wet mulch, and fix leaks quickly. Damp conditions attract termites.
Look over the yard
Scan for loose, fluffy mounds of soil. If you find one, step back and report it.
If it turns out to be termites
Termite treatment starts with an inspection to find out where they're active. Depending on the house, the pest business may suggest a chemical treatment, a termite barrier (a layer that stops hidden entry) or baiting. Don't spray or open anything first: the options rely on finding termites active.
In Queensland, chemical termite work sits under its own QBCC licence class, as well as a pest management licence from Queensland Health. Any pest controller you talk to should be able to tell you which they hold.
Yours, and the pest business's
You can
- Empty anything holding water at least weekly, and keep open drains clear of weeds and grass.
- Store firewood and timber off the ground, away from the walls.
- Photograph any rat you see, and where you saw it, from a distance.
Leave to a pest business
- Termite inspections, treatment and follow up visits.
- Rats and mice in the roof or walls.
- Spraying around the yard for mosquitoes, if you still want it once the water's gone.
Our take on Pimpama
Water first, every time. Get the gutters, saucers and drains sorted before you spend money on a yard spray, and keep the termite inspection up to date. When you're ready, tell us what you've seen and your postcode.
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.
