Rats on the rise in Sydney?

The City of Sydney Council says there is no appreciable increase in rat numbers in Inner Sydney, despite anecdotal reports of a rise in rodent numbers and expert opinion that rats are becoming immune to standard control measures.

Darlinghurst Residents Action Group (DRAG) convenor Jo Holder says rats are on the increase in Darlinghurst, invading apartment blocks and houses.

Ms Holder said her own apartment building was one of many buildings affected, with rats and their droppings being sighted in places they haven’t been seen before.

“We’ve certainly had a big increase in rats in our block, and this is something being widely reported by other Darlinghurst residents.”

Darlinghurst Rd, Hayden Lane, Liverpool St and Victoria St were among the trouble spots, said Ms Holder.

This publication has also noted an apparent increase in rodents, sighting them in locations including Oxford St, Darlinghurst as well as Hyde Park, Town Hall Railway Station and Wentworth Ave in the CBD.

Last year, Australian Museum naturalist Martyn Robinson noted that rats in Sydney were becoming immune to poison.

“A lot of suburban rats have been baited for as long as Sydney has [existed], so many populations have become immune to those baits,” said Mr Robinson.

“One of the interesting things is that when they become immune to the bait, they can actually become addicted to it.”

Ms Holder said she believed rats were on the increase due to Council contracting out garbage services, and lax planning controls.

“One of the problems has been Council contracting out garbage services,” she said.

“The service provided by URM (United Resource Management) is problematic, with waste collections sometimes being missed.

“The other thing driving this problem is Council approving food and beverage uses for Victorian terrace houses that just don’t have the facilities or space for adequate garbage storage and disposal,” she said.

“You’ve got places storing food and rubbish side-by-side.”

However, the City of Sydney says the inner city is not expriencing a rat plague.

“The City’s experts report there has been no noticeable increase in rat numbers recently,” said a City of Sydney spokesperson.

“During the summer months, rats are often seen more regularly because they move about looking for water, and because there are more food scraps in public places because more people are using outdoor spaces.”

The spokesperson said the City had an ongoing program of rat baiting, monitoring and control.

“A network of bait stations is checked regularly, and the City responds immediately to reports of rat sightings.

“Private landholders are responsible for taking reasonable steps to keep their premises vermin-free, and the City works closely with them on this.”

URM did not return calls.

Rats can be incubators for numerous diseases including leptospirosis, typhus fever, rat-bite fever and various forms of meningitis.