Environmental strategies and projects

The City of Mandurah runs Climate Change School Tours two to three times a year. This project, organised by the City’s Environmental Services team, puts together an informative and interactive cross section of the City’s Climate Change projects.  Topics covered throughout the three tours include the City’s adaptation and mitigation responses to climate change, local impacts of climate change, the Climate Watch Trail and Tidal Images Mandurah projects. The youth are also updated on Community Landcare, Climate Change Management in natural areas, Environmental Planning and Sustainable Housing designs.

Each year sees more schools within the Peel region and the Perth metro areas coming together during these tours, not only to hear about climate change, but network and meet between two hundred to three hundred young change-makers.

Kids Teaching Kids is an education model that uses local environmental issues as a theme for learning. 

Kids Teaching Kids starts in the classroom and extends into the community through the Kids Teaching Kids Learning Model and Program.  We are assured that the young kids are prepared to take up the challenges of saving our environment when we give them responsibilities to manage their own learning, through the Kids Teaching Kids Learning Model.

The City locally supports Kids Teaching Kids programs run in Mandurah.

There are so many incredible environmental groups in Mandurah and they’re always looking for an extra pair of hands and fresh, new ideas. Use the list below to explore our local groups and get in touch with them if you’d like to know more.

• Mandurah Environmental Volunteer Alliance
• Mandurah Environment and Heritage Group
• Including:
• Friends of Rivers, Peel
• Eyes on the Water, Peel
• Mandurah Tree Advocates
• Friends of Samphire Cove
• Dudley Dolphin
• Canoe Trail Friends of Mandurah and Pinjarra
• Bouvard Coast Care Group
• Peel Preservation Group
• Coastal Waste Warriors
• Plastic Free Mandurah
• Estuary Guardians
• Mandurah Volunteer Dolphin Rescue
• Organic Waste Network
• Osprey WA
• Mandurah Community Gardens
• Lakelands Community Garden
• Peel Men of the Trees
• Lake Clifton Landcare
• Seascapes Community Association
• Friends of Tindale Reserve
• Friends of Marlee Reserve
• Turtle Watch Mandurah
• Mandurah Wildlife Rescue
• Birdlife Australia
• Mandurah Bird Observers’ Group - anyone interested in joining Mandurah Bird Observers' Group please contact Bill King 9534 9913

Of the mosquito species found in WA, only around 30 species are considered to be major pests and/or possible carriers of viruses (including Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley Encephalitis virus and West Nile virus - Kunjin strain) that can cause diseases in humans.

Interesting facts

• Mosquitoes generally have a relatively short life cycle that includes four main stages
• There are more than 3500 species of mosquitoes worldwide. More than 300 of these species are found in Australia
• There are almost 100 species of mosquitoes in Western Australia
• Of the mosquito species found in WA, only 30 species are considered to be major pests and/or possible carriers of viruses
• Saltmarsh mosquitoes have been found to migrate up to 50km
• Only the female mosquito bites

Mosquito biology

The four stages of the mosquito lifecycle are:

Eggs

• A single female mosquito may lay some 50 – 300 eggs in one batch
• Eggs can be laid on the water’s surface, on soil or vegetation that will come into contact with water
• Eggs from some species can survive long periods (up to years) of dry conditions

Larva

• Cannot survive without water
• Grow through four stages
• Breathe air via a tube (siphon) at the end of their tail
• Feed on microscopic matter
• Can speed up and slow down their growth rate depending on water temperatures and other factors
• Avoid predators by diving

Pupa

• Form a comma-shaped body with paddle like tail
• Don’t feed
• Breathe air through two tubes (trumpet-like features) on the top of the head
• Provide a protective casing so that the transformation of the adult mosquito can take place

Adult

• Emerges from the pupal casing 2-3 days after the pupae forms
• Feed on plant juices and nectar from flowers and are also pollinators
• Females require a blood meal in order to produce eggs
• They are attracted by the carbon dioxide we breathe out as well as skin compounds and body odours

The Peel Mosquito Management Group is the largest mosquito management partnership of its type in Western Australia. The program is delivered by the City of Mandurah, Shire of Murray, City of Rockingham, Shire of Waroona and the WA Department of Health.

Since the early 1990s, local governments in the Peel Region have partnered with the WA Department of Health to successfully implement a mosquito management program. The program works to reduce human cases of mosquito-borne disease and minimise the nuisance caused by saltmarsh mosquitoes.

Given that mosquitoes don’t recognise boundaries, it is essential that we work together to achieve effective and sustainable mosquito management.

The program is an important and essential community service to protect public health and lifestyle for people living and visiting Mandurah and the region.

The PMMG has significantly evolved since the early days and is recognised as being one of the leading mosquito management programs in the country. This has involved treatment improvements and the integration of cutting edge industry-specific technology.

The State Government’s Department of Health has been is a long-standing key partner in ensuring the program’s success. They provide funding for helicopter services and resources including scientific expertise, mosquito-borne disease surveillance, operational improvements, research and program development opportunities.

The WA Department of Health also ensures community education is promoted via its Fight The Bite campaign in collaboration with the PMMG. The PMMG work with our local communities to inform and educate about the program and, importantly, ways to protect you and your family.

The PMMG strives to provide effective, consistent and environmentally-sustainable mosquito management. The program’s partners work hard to manage mosquitoes and without the collaboration, mosquito-borne disease and mosquito populations would be significantly higher in the Peel Region.

The City of Mandurah in partnership with the Peel Mosquito Management Group (PMMG) undertakes mosquito management operations all year round.

There are two main species of saltmarsh mosquitoes that affect our area:
Aedes camptorhyncus - typically active from April to October
Aedes vigilax - typically active during the warmer months of November to May 

These two species are the primary carriers of Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus and are also the main cause of nuisance. For this reason the program’s focus is on the year-round reduction of these species. 

Mosquito management is a complex and challenging task given the numerous environmental factors that drive and maintain mosquito breeding. These environmental drivers also play a key role in how effective the program is. This can change, and does change, from week to week, and year to year.

The Peel Mosquito Management Group (PMMG) is the largest mosquito management partnership of its type in Western Australia and a national leader in providing effective, consistent and environmentally sustainable mosquito management.

Refined over many years, the PMMG program targets mosquito larvae to reduce adult populations. This follows recognised best-practice methods.

The PMMG primarily uses aerial larviciding techniques to apply granule and liquid larvicides. This is undertaken with a specially-equipped helicopter, highly experienced pilots and leading edge application technology thanks to significant funding from the WA Department of Health.

Aerial larviciding targets the mosquito larvae in the water before they emerge as adults. This method allows rapid, accurate, reliable and safe application across large areas (up to 600 hectares) within a short timeframe which is critical to the program’s success.

The planning and frequency of aerial treatments is based on the frequency of tidal activity, larval surveillance results, and weather conditions.

In some situations there may only be a small window for effective application. The product and timing is carefully considered during treatment preparation.

The two types of larvicides used are S - methoprene and Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis). These are approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, and supported by the WA Department of Health, for broadscale mosquito management. These larvicides pose no adverse effects to other non-target organisms or the public.

Even with our highly effective aerial larviciding program, mosquitoes cannot be eliminated all together so it is important to protect yourself and your family at all times.

Recent treatments

Here are the recent treatments for the season - we will update following each treatment.

• 7 October 2021 - 309 ha
• 24/28 September 2021 - 349 ha
• 10 September 2021 - 175.4 ha
• 6 August 2021 - 103 ha

Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus are the two most common mosquito-borne diseases in the Peel Region.

Virus surveillance is undertaken by the WA Department of Health across the south-west of WA. The aim of this important surveillance is to monitor mosquito and virus activity.

The peak time for this disease transmission is generally between September and January, however protection from mosquito bites is an important measure year round.

Common symptoms include painful or swollen joints, sore muscles, skin rashes, fever and tiredness. Other symptoms may also occur.

The only way to confirm if you have a mosquito-borne disease is to visit a medical professional for a specific blood test.

You should take every precaution to avoid mosquito bites. The only way to prevent infection is to avoid being bitten.

Our mosquito management team spend many hours inspecting more than 70 saltmarsh mosquito breeding locations.

Field work is critical for effective mosquito management and is methodically undertaken after storm surge events and following treatments.

During field work, a range of information is obtained and recorded including:

• water depth, distribution, temperature and fluctuation
• mosquito larvae development stages, concentration and location
• mosquito larvae development timelines for treatment planning
• reviewing and recording treatments outcomes and impacts
• investigating other water sources that support mosquito breeding

Environmental drivers of local weather patterns and conditions play an important role in the ability for saltmarsh mosquitoes to sustain their breeding cycles.

These drivers can also impact the program’s activities and are monitored daily to ensure effective mosquito management. The environmental drivers are:

Weather

Weather influences such as low and high pressure systems, approaching cold fronts and wind forces, west coast troughs, tropical cyclones reaching the mid-west coast and rainfall inflow into regional river systems, either individually or as a combination can have significant impacts on local tide behaviour within the Peel-Harvey Estuary. 

These same weather influences also play their part in seasons when tidal activity and mosquito breeding activity cycles are much less active. These seasons typically occur every three to five years as a consequence of broader climate drivers, and results in saltmarsh wetland habitats remaining dry for weeks and even months. This natural management restricts mosquito breeding and lessens adult mosquito populations.

Tides

Tides are the daily rise and fall of sea levels.

Whilst tidal range within the Peel Harvey-Estuary system is typically less than 30cm, tides vary greatly from astronomical and historical predictors. Local tides are highly sensitive to changes in local and broader weather events.

Storm surge

A storm surge is the term given when there is a difference between the actual tide and the predicted tide.

Storm surges can peak well above predicted tide heights and can occur even though obvious changes in local weather is not experienced. Surges may be brief or occur over a few days. Storm surges that occur at the same time as a high tide can see a significant rise in water levels.

Storm surge can inundate vast areas of breeding habitat and initiate the hatching of mosquito eggs in their millions over a single or number of days. The eggs of saltmarsh mosquitoes have the ability to remain in a dormant state for weeks, months and even years. This allows the build-up of eggs over long periods.

In years when storm surges occur more frequently as a consequence of broader climate drivers, managing mosquito populations effectively is much more challenging.