Think you've seen fire ants?
Don't touch, spray or capture them. On 13 October 2026 the NSW Government reported a nest at the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre, and control orders over a 2 km radius took effect on 26 October 2026. We don't say whether any street is in or out. Take a clear photo and report it to the NSW Biosecurity Helpline.
What makes the Inner West different
Bins are the front line
Inner West Council says to keep bins clean with lids closed, to cut smells and foraging by birds and rats. Compostable liners for food scraps can reduce odours and pests in the green bin as well.
Two river catchments
Council's wetlands are spread across the Parramatta River and Cooks River catchments, including 5 reconstructed wetlands and 3 reconstructed saltmarsh systems. Tempe Saltmarsh is built for tidal inundation, and saltmarsh is where Sydney's commonest trapped mosquito breeds.
It's probably not a native rat
The Australian Museum says native rats such as the bush rat haven't been recorded in the inner city for many years. A rat in a Leichhardt kitchen is likely to be an introduced one, usually the black rat or brown rat.
Terraces, semis and shared walls
Old terraces share walls, roof spaces and drains, which suits rats, mice and German cockroaches. Rodent control goes further when both sides of a wall act together, so a friendly word with next door is often the first step.
Possums like the same roofs. They're protected in NSW, so proofing the gaps and using someone with a catch and release licence are the lawful options. See our Sydney possums page for how that goes.
Buying in the Inner West
A building and pest inspection is worth doing on any old timber-floored home. We match the timber pest inspection, and a builder, surveyor or architect does the building report. In NSW there's a 5 business day cooling-off period after exchange, but none at auction, so get the inspection done before bidding. Our pre-purchase page has more.
Good questions to ask
- Where do you think they're getting in?
- What will you do about the entry points, not just the pests?
- Do my neighbours need to be involved?
- What will the written record of the treatment show?
If it were our terrace in the Inner West
We'd sort the bins and the green waste first, then talk to the neighbours. Rats rarely respect a party wall. If you're still seeing them after that, tell us the suburb and what you've noticed.
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.
