What's different in Oran Park
A planned new town
NSW Planning says Oran Park is part of the South West Growth Area, with up to 7,540 new homes and 148 ha of open space. Most houses here are young, which changes the pest question from what's in the walls to what's protecting them.
The meter box notice
The National Construction Code requires a durable notice in a prominent place such as the meter box, showing the termite system used and its installation date. It also gives the recommended scope and frequency of future inspections.
Introduced animals
Camden Council says 23 introduced fauna species compete with native animals for food and habitat, naming Indian mynas and European rabbits. It asks people not to feed birds in backyards, and to clear away leftover pet food.
Your duty as a landholder
Council's fox page points out that landholders have a General Biosecurity Duty under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to minimise risks from pest animals. In practice, secure your bins and chook pen.
Does a new house need a termite inspection?
Yes. A termite management system helps stop hidden entry, and regular inspections catch activity early. Fairfield City Council says barriers installed at construction aren't completely fool-proof, so owners should arrange regular inspections as well.
Treat the first year or two as your setup period. Know what system you've got, who installed it and when it's next due. If the system is chemical, the notice shows its life expectancy too, so diarise the date.
Termite inspection in Oran Park: what to expect
The inspector checks the outside of the house, the walls, the roof space where it's reachable, and the yard for stumps, offcuts and anything touching the slab. You should get a written report saying what was checked, what wasn't and what they'd do next.
If they find something, don't disturb it. CSIRO says several control options rely on finding termites active. In NSW, anyone who got or renewed a pest licence after 17 December 2021 needs the timber pest management technician licence to treat timber pests.
In your first year in a new home
- Photograph the meter box notice and save the next inspection date.
- Clear builder's offcuts, formwork and tree stumps from the yard.
- Keep garden beds and mulch from covering the slab edge or weep holes.
- Fit bins with lids that close, and store pet food inside.
- Empty water from tubs and pot plates, and check the gutters are draining.
Our take on pests in Oran Park
Don't let the shiny new house talk you out of the first inspection. Book the one on your meter box notice, keep the report, and tap what you've seen if anything turns up sooner.
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.
