The City of Cockburn believe they are winning the battle with the flying nuisance ” despite a recent report failing to identity any significant activity patterns the City could use to further quell the bug.
Researchers from Edith Cowan University were enlisted to analyse more than 18 years worth of the City’s midge-monitoring data and compile recommendations on how the City could enhance its program.
The report, undertaken between September last year to April this year, indicated there was a significant decline in larvae and adult midge numbers.
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READ NOWThe City was always confident this would be the case, with a drop in complaints from 124 during the 2011-12 season to just 13 for 2012-13.
But the report did list a number of recommendations for the City to consider, including continued investment in the monitoring of lakes, as they are key environment assets that are subject to substantial pressures from development and climate change.
It was suggested that a simpler system be developed to record and store data. The training of staff in water quality and midge collection was also recommended for consistency between years as personnel change.
‘The analysis was undertaken to determine if there were any patterns that could be identified which may help with our management program,’ said engineering director Michael Littleton.
‘Unfortunately, no patterns emerged.
‘The report recommended that some of our monitoring techniques could be updated and rationalised,’ he said.