Small businesses and community residents in the suburbs of Liverpool and Holsworthy are used to bearing the brunt of second-rate responses from government.
“We are not known in Sydney’s West, and if we are we’re used to being seen as Sydney’s worst.”
Staff at a local dental clinic in the area explained how patients have learnt to deal with the disruption of mosquitoes.
“We didn’t want it to be confused as infection control. At times there are 10-15 mosquitoes at the clinic. It’s really impacted the practice.”
A local butcher explained that this outbreak was the first of its kind that he has experienced as a resident of Chipping Norton.
“I can’t sleep at night. The council tried to help by providing (us) businesses in the centre with mosquito repellent packages.”
Despite the region spanning a significant geographical area, including suburbs that border the Hume Highway, the South Western Motorway, Campbelltown, East Hills, Cumberland and Bankstown, residents are facing slower responses from state agencies and Sydney Water regarding the outbreak. It is expected that this outbreak will continue to cause disruption to residents now and throughout the Christmas period.
Fractured relationships between Members of Parliament, Nathan Haggarty – Member for Leppington, and Tina Ayyad – Member for Holsworthy, have been put aside as they lead separate efforts and an investigation into the cause of the outbreak, and the response from the government.
“Chris Minns and Minister Jackson have been slow to act. The people of south west Sydney have been treated like second class citizens. They deserve better,” Ayyad said.
Haggarty commented on the progress made through the coordinated efforts of the local council, Sydney Water, and NSW Health, but raised concerns about the impact it has had on residents in Sydney’s West.
“We’ve made a lot of progress, with a 90% reduction in mosquito larvae. This is a strong step forward, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Sydney Water and NSW Health. Our community deserves respect and accountability from leaders. That means standing up for truth and working together to solve the challenges we face,” said Haggarty.
A spokesperson from Sydney Water commented on their latest efforts to address the outbreak.
“Sydney Water has a dedicated team working tirelessly to address the mosquito issue and has taken immediate action, including herbicide spraying, larvicide deployment, helicopter spraying, and aquatic vegetation removal. Field assessments show a 95 per cent reduction in larvae across ten of twelve sites since Friday. Sydney Water staff are on the ground talking directly with customers in the impacted areas.”
Councillor Mannoun explained that Liverpool City Council received advice about the cause of the mosquito outbreak from Sydney Water, which has been attributed to the growth of Frogbit in the Warwick Farm Water Recycling Plant Pond.
“Sydney Water has advised Council it is now treating the Frogbit under advice from the Department of Planning and Environment,” said Mannoun.
It is the view of Liverpool City Council that residents have suffered due to the eight-hectare settling pond at Warwick Farm being left unattended, which has caused it to become overgrown with a prohibited weed that provides an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda commended the recent efforts by Sydney Water and urged leaders to put aside their differences so that they can continue responding to and eliminating the mosquito outbreak, particularly ahead of the Christmas period.
“I am pleased to have seen positive results in Liverpool’s ongoing fight against the mosquito outbreak. It is a testament to the rapid mobilisation of agencies like Sydney Water and NSW Health,” said Kaliyanda.
A NSW Health spokesperson said it was important for residents to take precautions during this time as the agency begins implementing a mosquito control plan in critical areas, in partnership with Sydney Water.
“With large numbers of mosquitos currently detected in the Liverpool area, South Western Sydney Local Health District has commenced trapping as part of the NSW Arbovirus Surveillance Program a month earlier than usual.
Mosquito species recently identified in trappings have been found to be primarily a common nuisance species which usually does not transmit any local mosquito-borne disease.
Large settlement or retentions ponds associated with the Liverpool Water Recycling Plant is suspected to be the primary source for the increase in mosquito populations. NSW Health Pathology have been advising Sydney Water in implementing a mosquito control program”, said a spokesperson from NSW Health.
Oz Arab media has reached out to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for further comment on the issue.