Life beside Westerfolds Park
Parkland on the river
Parks Victoria says Westerfolds Park sits beside the Yarra River in Templestowe with over 120 hectares of parkland, and that the Yarra Valley Parklands form a backbone of trails, linear parks, wetlands and waterways along the river.
Who lives in it
Parks Victoria says quiet walkers might spot wombats, sugar gliders, possums, echidnas and snakes, and that Eastern Grey Kangaroos are often out on the open grasslands. Of those, possums and snakes are the ones you're likely to meet at home.
Big old trees
Grassy woodland with River Red Gums and Manna Gums grows in small patches of the park. Any tree with branches touching your roof gives a possum a road in, wherever you are.
Termite treatment in Templestowe
Victorian termite rules are set council by council, as building rules for new work, so ask Manningham's building team what applies to your block. Whatever they say, it won't tell you whether there are termites in your house. Only an inspection does.
Look for damaged wood and mud tubes, and leave both undisturbed. A termite management system makes hidden entry harder, and an inspection every so often picks up activity sooner. Termite work in Victoria needs the general authorisation that includes timber pests, so ask the technician about it. Our page on termite treatment explains what happens next.
Possums and snakes
Possums are protected in Victoria, and trapping a ringtail without a permit is illegal. If one's in the roof, the answer is proofing after it has gone out for the night, and our Melbourne possum page has the rest.
A snake isn't a pest business's job. Keep your distance, keep the dog inside and call a licensed snake catcher. Healthdirect says many Australian snakes are protected, and a bite is a 000 call.
Keeping the bush at the fence line
- Trim branches so nothing touches the roof.
- Stack firewood off the ground, away from walls and decks.
- Keep grass short and clear rubbish from the back fence.
- Fix dripping taps and leaking overflows near the house.
- Keep mulch from building up against the slab or weep holes.
If we lived near the river
We'd book a termite inspection if it's been a while, and trim anything that gives a possum a way on to the roof. For what you can see or hear now, tap it with 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.
