What's different in Mount Druitt
Woodland in the suburb
Blacktown City Council's 2007 plan for Dr Charles McKay Reserve at Old Mt Druitt describes about 15 hectares with significant remnants of Cumberland Plain Woodland. It's a reminder that bush, stumps and old timber sit closer to homes here than you might expect.
Two creeks
That reserve sits on a ridge draining to Ropes Creek in the west and Eastern Creek in the east. The council is also continuing restoration works along the Ropes Creek corridor at Whalan Reserve. Yards that stay damp near these catchments deserve a closer look, because termites go looking for moist timber.
Vermin next door
Blacktown City Council takes reports about overgrown vegetation, accumulated waste and vermin on properties. If a neighbouring yard is feeding the rats and a friendly word hasn't worked, that's the route to use.
Possums in the roof
Council's native animals page says you'd first need a special licence to trap one, that it must go back onto your property, and that using poison on a possum is an offence.
Signs of termites worth a call
- Timber that sounds hollow or crumbles, such as skirting boards, door frames or fence posts.
- Mud tubes running up a wall, a pier or the slab edge.
- Doors or windows that suddenly stick.
- Termites in a stump or old sleeper close to the house.
Termite treatment in Mount Druitt: what it involves
Treatment starts with an inspection, so the inspector can find active termites, work out how they're getting in and tell you which species you've got. Don't disturb them first. CSIRO says several control options rely on finding termites still active, so leave mud tubes and damaged timber alone.
From there, it's usually a termite baiting system, a chemical treatment around the building, or both. Access to the subfloor, how far the damage has spread and how many follow-up visits you need all change the size of the job.
In NSW the licence belongs to the person, not the business. Anyone who got or renewed a licence after 17 December 2021 needs the timber pest management technician licence to treat timber pests, so ask to see the photo card.
Rats and mice
Rats follow food, water and shelter. Shut your bins, store pet food inside and keep the yard clear of rubbish piles. If you're cleaning up droppings, NSW Health's advice is gloves, a waterproof dressing over any cuts, and washing your hands with soap afterwards.
What we'd book first
If you've spotted damaged timber or mud tubes, we'd skip everything else and get an inspection, because a treatment plan depends on what's active. For rats or possums, try the food and roof gaps first, then tell us what's still happening.
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.
