Council to call in medical experts

Brisbane City Council's medical entomologist Mr Mike Muller has been invited by Gosford Council to address councillors and staff on the subject of mosquito control.

Westmead Hospital medical entomologist Dr Cameron Webb, author of the Risk Assessment Report commissioned by Gosford Council, has also been invited to speak.

The pair were invited to address the meeting following requests by Hardy's Bay Residents Group.

"We have the opportunity to meet and speak with Mr Muller and Dr Webb prior to their meetings with council," said Hardy's Bay Resident Group secretary Mr Adrian Williams.

The meeting will be held today on Monday, September 18, at 7.30pm, at the Killcare Surf Club.

Cr Terri Latella questioned the move at Gosford Council's meeting of September 5.

"I infer that he would be supporting the initiatives of spraying with Bti," said Cr Latella.

"The spraying of BTi in this area, where there are threatened and endangered ecological communities, will impact on those communities."

Cr Latella asked that someone be allowed to speak on the impact on the environmental communities, stating that hearing one side of the argument would be an unequal footing to take in information.

"I feel councillors have been lobbied to allow spraying of the area occur, because of social ramifications."

Cr Trevor Drake said that Mr Muller was an expert in his field and that he expected Mr Muller would "endorse that BTi doesn't have long term affects on the environment".

Only land owned by council would require State Government Departmental approval for the spraying of BTi.

Director of Environment and Planning Ms Colleen Worthy-Jennings said that "a lot of the land" was national park.

Cr Chris Holstein asked that the authors of the report to council be present at the presentation from Mr Muller.

For more information about the residents' group meeting, visit www.hardysbay.com.

Press release, September 14 Adrian Williams, Hardy's Bay Residents Group Inc Council agenda ENV88, September 5