Rubbish in Woolloomooloo highlights the battle faced by Sydney.
Surging rat populations in one of the country’s biggest cities are playing a small part in the nation’s ongoing housing crisis by causing mass structural damage to existing properties.
And in a twist of irony, it is the government’s own campaign to address the housing crisis that is creating the perfect environment for rats to do their damage.
This is the horror situation facing Sydney’s CBD as booming development projects fast-tracked by the government, coupled with rampant illegal dumping, creates the perfect environment for rats to prosper.
Piles of rubbish left on streets in suburbs like Surry Hills have long attracted rats but locals believe the situation is getting worse as more rubbish gets dumped and more development forces rodents out into the open.
MORE: Man pulls out 20m ‘monster’ in Aus backyard
Rats roaming Sydney remain a problem as a result of rubbish and increased development across the city. Picture: Jonathan Ng
MORE: Tradie’s colossal 5.5m find in Aus backyard
“One of the key drivers of this rat explosion is the massive construction boom in Sydney,” says local pest control business Safe Pest Control.
“As construction disturbs underground burrows, rats are forced to find new homes, often in areas closer to human activity.
“Sydney’s food culture (also) contributes significantly to the rat problem.
“Restaurants, markets, and households produce an immense amount of food waste, which, when improperly disposed of, provides an ideal feeding ground for rats.
“The rise in illegally dumped waste also adds to the growing rat population, creating a perfect breeding environment.”
With development and garbage combining to form the perfect rodent storm, Safe Pest Control says population estimates are difficult but rat numbers in Sydney could sit anywhere between 500 million to 1 billion.
That’s about 1500-3000 rats for every person in Sydney’s inner city and inner south, according to 2021 census figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
With so many rats flooding the city, existing properties away from development sites become their targets.
MORE: The Aus suburbs most overrun by possums
Excessive garbage keeps rodents around despite eddorts to eradicate them.
MORE: Crazy’: Aussie told to rip up lawn or lose bond
“Rats are notorious for causing structural damage to properties,” Safe Pest Control states.
“They chew through wires, floor joists, and even walls. The damage can be costly and dangerous, especially when rats chew through electrical cables, creating a fire risk.
“Residents in affected areas report significant damage to their homes, including insulation and structural supports, all of which contribute to repair costs and safety hazards.”
Images posted to social media of garbage piling up on city streets show just what residents and the City of Sydney council are fighting to try and curb the rodent populations.
“Apparently this pile of rubbish arrived late last week. Not sure why it just left on the pavement rather than be removed appropriately,” one local posted on the Woolloomooloo Insider regarding a pile of rubbish dumped on Cathedral Street.
City of Sydney councillor Adam Worling said the Woolloomooloo incident was a case of someone booking a legitimate kerbside clean-up before tohers simply piled their own rubbish on top.
“City staff investigated the matter and confirmed that the waste was associated with a booked kerbside bulky waste collection. The non-compliant waste items, however, were not collected and remained on site,” he said.
MORE: Bizarre Aus backyard trend replacing pools
Estimates of Sydney’s rat population differ widely, with some reports having the numbers range from 500 million to 1 billion.
“As the situation posed a significant health and safety risk, the City’s cleansing operations team made a risk-based decision to remove the remaining non-compliant items and clean the footpath on 16 February.”
A City of Sydney spokesman said numerous waste teams were deployed every day to combat waste across the city.
“These teams also conduct regular patrols across key areas, including Surry Hills and Potts Point, as well as other identified locations, to monitor and collect items that require prompt attention,” the spokesman told Yahoo.
“We’ll continue working with the community to identify areas that can sometimes have increased levels of illegal dumping so we can actively monitor those sites.”
English (US) · 