Port Macquarie and the wet
A very wet autumn and winter in 2025
NSW Health reported very much above average rainfall on the mid north coast from April to June 2025. WA's Building and Energy says damp conditions attract termites, and that plumbing, drainage and roof leaks should be fixed quickly.
Where termites sit on the map
CSIRO says termite risk on mainland Australia generally rises toward the north and is highest in the subtropics and tropics, but it doesn't rate towns one by one. Port Macquarie has no official termite rating, so the inspection is what counts.
NSW rules for the treatment
A NSW pest licence is issued to a person, never to a business. Anyone licensed or renewed after 17 December 2021 needs the timber pest management technician licence to treat termites, and every NSW pesticide licence goes on a public register.
What termites leave behind
Look for mud. Subterranean termites build shelter tubes of mud over concrete, brickwork and durable timber so they can stay damp and out of the sun. They often appear on piers, slab edges, the inside of a garage wall or behind stored boxes.
Timber that sounds dull and hollow when tapped is the other giveaway. Don't break the tubes open or dig into the timber to see what's inside: CSIRO says disturbing them can make treatment harder, because several options rely on finding active termites.
Your part, and the termite inspector's
You can
- Fix leaking taps, hot water overflows and roof leaks quickly.
- Keep gutters clear and downpipes connected, so water runs away from the walls.
- Keep garden beds and mulch from building up against walls and weep holes.
- Store timber and firewood off the ground and away from the house.
- Don't spray, break open mud tubes or pull out damaged timber: leave them for the inspector.
Leave to a pest business
- Inspecting the roof void, subfloor and walls with the right tools.
- Working out whether activity is current and where the colony might be.
- Treatment with a baiting system or a soil barrier.
- Follow-up visits to check the treatment is working.
What treatment usually involves
Treatment only follows an inspection and a written report. If termites are active, the choice is usually between a baiting system and a chemical soil barrier, sometimes with the active area treated directly first, and bait systems need regular return visits.
Get the expected results and the warranty terms on paper before work starts. Mention children, pets, fish tanks and the veggie patch, so the technician can plan around them and explain any precautions.
Worth asking the inspector
- Which parts of the house couldn't you reach, and why?
- Is the activity current, or old damage?
- Is there anything about the drainage or garden that's making it worse?
- Who will do the treatment, and what licence do they hold?
Where we'd start with termite inspections and treatment in Port Macquarie
After a wet year like 2025, we'd fix any leak near the house first, then book an inspection. If you've already found soft timber or mud tubes, leave them exactly as they are and tap Termites 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.
