A biting insect assessment was conducted at the Andranangoo Creek West and Lethbridge Bay West mining prospects from the 29th September to the 1st of October 2005. This included detailed ground surveys for actual and potential mosquito breeding sites, assessment of aerial photography for potential mosquito and biting midge breeding sites, and initial adult biting insect trapping at both mining prospects. The early report production meant that information from subsequent peak season adult biting insect trapping in November 2005, and January and May 2006 had to be produced in a separate supplementary report. Therefore some conclusions in the first report were drawn based on field inspections and desktop observations, and not on trap data. The following report highlights the findings of the supplementary trapping, with new conclusions in regards to mosquitoes and biting midges. Trapping conducted for the Andranangoo Creek West and Lethbridge Bay West Biting Insect Assessment Report (Warchot & Whelan 2005) is referred to as ‘initial trapping’ in this supplementary report.

Matilda Minerals Limited (Matilda) proposes to develop sand mining operations at Andranangoo Creek West (Andranangoo) and Lethbridge Bay West (Lethbridge), Melville Island, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory. The proposed operation will extract high grade heavy minerals (HM), specifically zircon and rutile, for export to China. It is estimated that a total of 99,000 t of zircon and rutile will be exported during the anticipated sand mining operation over three and half years. A proposal to mine both sites was submitted to the NT Government in the form of a Notive of Intent Document (URS, 2005). The NT Government determined the project is to undergo formal environmental assessment in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS). Part of the EIS process is to conduct a biting insect assessment of the general project areas to determine any public health risks to workers and the potential for mining activities to alter the natural environment and create further biting insect breeding sites. The Medical Entomology Branch was commissioned by URS Australia on behalf of Matilda Minerals to undertake a biting insect assessment at both proposed sandmining sites.

A Hazchem Storage Facility is proposed at Section 4239, Hundred of Bagot. Section 4239, Hundred of Bagot is located at Hidden Valley adjacent to extensive mangrove areas of Bleesers Creek and Reichardt Creek in Frances Bay, Darwin Harbour. Section 4239 is proposed to be subdivided in future, with the proposed Hazchem Storage Facility to be built within a 4ha site in Section 4239. The areas adjacent to the proposed development area were also identified as being subject to seasonal pest problems from the salt marsh mosquito Ochlerotatus vigilax (Whelan et al 1994). Other mosquito species of potential significance in the proposed development area include Culex annulirostris and Coquillettidia xanthogaster (Whelan et al 1994). Ochlerotatus vigilax is a vector of Ross River virus (RRV) disease and Barmah Forest virus (BFV) disease, while Culex annulirostris is a vector of RRV, BFV, Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) disease and Kunjin virus (KUNV) disease. The numbers of these species of mosquitoes in this area indicated there are seasonal risks for mosquito borne disease transmission in the development area. The Medical Entomology Branch (MEB) has been asked to identify any biting insect pest or potential human health problems in the development area, and provide advice on the magnitude of the problem. To do this MEB has referred to past biting insect investigations in the development area (Whelan et al 194), as well as examined the proposed plans for the potential of the development to create or exacerbate existing biting insect problems.

As part of the biting insect assessment for the Blacktip Project, traps were required to be set during the peak pest biting midge season months of either August, September, October or November. The month of September was to sample peak season numbers of the main human pest biting midge in coastal areas of Northern Australia, Culicoides ornatus. Peak abundance of C. ornatus occurs around the time of the full moon each month, with numbers generally elevated over a four-five day period. Numbers of C. ornatus can vary dramatically over this four-five day period, although previous studies have shown highest numbers generally occur one day before the full moon and on the day of the full moon. To define the peak numbers of C. ornatus in September, trapping was proposed to occur over a three day period around the full moon, which was to include trapping one night before the full moon, the night of the full moon, and the night after the full moon. This trapping was also likely to indicate peak mosquito numbers for this month, with the exception of Ochlerotatus vigilax, which generally occur 10 days after the monthly high tide. The ensuing report discusses the new findings and recommendations derived from the September 2004 trapping period, and is to be used as a supplement to the Biting Insect Survey and Assessment report for the Blacktip Project, which was produced in July 2004. The new findings provided in this report can supersede the equivalent findings in the July 2004 report.

There are many examples of development in the Darwin region that have led to enormous populations of a range of mosquito species, severely effecting residents in nearby areas and requiring costly rectification. To aid planners in their design of the proposed Newton development, the Medical Entomology section of the department of Health and Families has made collections of biting midges and mosquitoes form march 1984 to April 1985 in and around the proposed development area between the Elizabeth and Blackmore Rivers, south-west of Palmerston. Additional surveys of biting midge breeding areas were made in late 1987. This report analyses the result and suggest methods of minimising the adverse effects of the biting insect present in the proposed development area, and outlines some construction guidelines to avoid exacerbating the problem.

Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) Ranger Mine is located in Kakadu National Park, adjacent to several arms of the Magela Creek and within flight range of mosquitoes from the extensive Magela Swamp. Weekly routine adult mosquito trapping in and adjacent to the nearby town of Jabiru consistently reveals very high numbers of pest and disease carrying mosquito species, generally in the post wet season and dry season months of April to August, and during a short period of a few weeks in the mid wet season. Low to moderate numbers of pest and disease carrying mosquito species are also encountered during most other months of the year. The presence of extended periods of high mosquito numbers translates to a significant potential for mosquito borne disease transmission in the Jabiru locality.The following report presents the results of brief field investigations in September and December 2005, a critical review of the nature and extent of natural mosquito breeding sites likely to affect Ranger Mine, outlines potential breeding sites at the mine site, outlines the adult mosquito and ovitrap program, and provides recommendations on how to manage potential mosquito issues at the mine site.

Territory Iron Limited proposes to develop an open cut iron ore mining operation at Frances Creek, 180 kilometres south-east of Darwin. The proposed operation will be on the site of the previous Frances Creek Iron Ore Mine, which operated from 1967 to 1974. It will use remaining infrastructure from the previous operation. Three of five pits will be extensions of existing pits (Frances Creek Project PER, MBS Environmental August 2006). As the proposed mine site contains various water holding features such as dams and pits, as well as being located adjacent to ephemeral creek lines, there was the likelihood that pest and disease carrying mosquito species would be present at the mine site. Mining operations have the potential to create new mosquito breeding sites through the excavation of pits, construction of sediment ponds and dams, waste water disposal, construction of waste dumps, pit dewatering activities and the construction of roads. Mine operations also have the potential to introduce new mosquito species into the Northern Territory, such as the dengue mosquito Aedes aegypti from North Queensland, if equipment was to be sourced from this area.

Darwin, the northern gateway to Australia, is both vulnerable and receptive to a range of exotic and endemic mosquito borne diseases, including malaria, dengue, epidemic polyarthritis and Australian encephalitis. The Medical Entomology Branch has developed an integrated mosquito control program.

Terra Gold Mining Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of GBS Gold Australia Pty Ltd proposes to commence mining activities at the previously worked Maud Creek Mine site near Katherine, Northern Territory. The operation will involve construction of an underground decline, stockpile area, and associated infrastructure. Extracted ores will be transported to Union Reefs Gold Mine for processing (URS 2008). Mine sites have the potential to create or exacerbate mosquito breeding, from the creation of water dams, wetland filters, borrow pits, sediment traps, pit water discharge, waste water disposal, as well as the construction of roads and mine waste dumps. Mine sites also have the potential to introduce new mosquito species into the Northern Territory, such as the dengue mosquito Aedes aegypti from North Queensland, if equipment is sourced from this area. Therefore, all major development in the NT is required to consider mosquito breeding during the Environmental Assessment process, to ensure development does not create new mosquito breeding sites.

The McArthur River Mine (MRM) is situated approximately 50 km south west of Borroloola in the Northern Territory. The objective of the project is to mine the silver-lead-zinc deposit adjacent to the McArthur River. The ore will be transported by truck along the Carpentaria Highway, through Borroloola, to a barge loading facility at Bing Bong Station situated on the shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria. This report summarises the results of the first 12 months of baseline monitoring and discusses the implications of the mosquito species, their relative numbers, and the spatial and temporal distribution of the mosquito species in the area. The results of a follow up field inspection on 19-20 September 1995 are also presented.

On 5 December 1995 the Medical Entomology Branch (MEB) of Territory Health Services (THS) was notified by the Disease Control Centre (THS) of the sudden and unexplained death of a pilot who had been working in the Wollogorang area. The clinical symptoms of the deceased were considered to be consistent with a viral illness. The deceased had previously been ill on several occasions after swimming in Africa. This report is detailed with respect to Aedes larval surveys and adult trapping because this Branch has very limited information on the Wollogorang area and Borroloola is a vulnerable point for the reintroduction of Ae. aegypti into the NT

Nhulunbuy is situated in Arnhem Land on the Gove Peninsula, approximately 650 km east of Darwin. It is a mining community of approximately 3,000 people associated with Nabalco Mines. The Nhulunbuy Corporation is responsible for conducting mosquito control operations in the township and has extended this service to the Wallaby Beach area at the mines request. Mosquito control includes a combination of larvicide and adult fogging operations that are conducted by a pest control contractor (Mr Dave Suter). The primary aim of the current survey (20-23 March 1995) by two officers from the MEB was to review the location of the major existing and potential breeding sites of Ae. vigilax and the common banded mosquito Cx. annulirostris by larval survey. Both of these species were vectors in a previous epidemic of epidemic polyarthritis and Barmah Forest virus (Whelan and Hayes, 1992). Additional traps were also set on 22 March 1995 (particularly at Wallaby Beach) to supplement the routine adult monitoring program of that week.