Robina's lakes and creek
Built to hold floodwater
South Lake, West Lake and Clear Island Waters were built between 1983 and 1991. City of Gold Coast says they act as a retention basin for flood waters and stormwater from the Mudgeeraba and Worongary Creek catchments.
Native water rats
The council lists them among the common native species in the lakes, and says grassy foreshores can provide habitat. They're protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
Mudgeeraba Creek
Greenheart Robina Parklands, 22.5 hectares at the end of Stadium Drive, sits right beside the creek. Heavy rain leaves pools along edges like this one, and that's where to expect mosquitoes.
Fire ants
If you see a mound in the yard that doesn't look right, don't work out your suburb's status online. Report it to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours, the time Queensland law allows.
Native water rat or pest rat?
| Native water rat | Brown rat | Roof rat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Grows to 40 cm long | Body 180 to 255 mm | Body 165 to 205 mm | |
| Tail | Tipped white | Short and scaly | Long and scaly | |
| Look for | Partly webbed hind feet, water repellent fur | Shaggy fur, blunt muzzle | Large thin ears, pointed nose | |
| Where | Lake edges and grassy foreshores | At ground level, burrowing and swimming | Roofs, ceilings, trees | |
| The law | Protected native animal | Introduced pest | Introduced pest |
What that means for your place
A rat in your roof or kitchen is almost certainly a pest rat, and that's a normal job for a pest controller. A big rat with a white tipped tail along the shoreline isn't, and nobody should be baiting for it. If you can't tell, take a photo from a distance and pick Not sure what it is on the form.
Whatever's going on, tell the technician your block runs down to the lake. They can plan the work around it and tell you any precautions. The council also asks that fertilisers, detergents and clippings aren't allowed to wash into the lakes.
Termite inspection and buying in Robina
A termite inspection is the routine job here, and the QBCC suggests one a year. Termites usually show up as damaged timber or thin mud tubes. Don't disturb either: control options rely on finding them still active.
A building and pest inspection in Robina covers two separate Queensland licences, so check the inspector holds the right one for each half before you book.
Lakeside habits worth keeping
- Tip out saucers, boats and covers after rain.
- Keep rubbish and pet food sealed, so pest rats have less reason to stay.
- Keep mulch and sprinklers away from the slab edge.
- Keep timber decks and stored timber in the inspector's sights.
Our advice by the lake
Identify it before you act. A photo takes a minute and could save you paying for the wrong job. If it's inside the house, or you've found termite signs, 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.
