The Durack (Fairway Waters) area is located near the upper reaches of Hudson Creek in Darwin Harbour, on the north-west margin of the satellite city of Palmerston. The area is close to an extensive area of mangroves. Potential biting insect problems in the general area were flagged in the early days of the development. Following the final preliminary environmental report (PER) the Medical Entomology Branch (MEB) was commissioned by Department of Lands, Planning & Environment (DLP&E) to monitor biting insects to
determine what measures would be required to reduce the impact of biting insects on the proposed residential areas.
The MEB undertook a 12 month biting insect monitoring program in the Fairway Waters and adjacent area to determine the biting insect problem, the seasonal dispersal of biting midges into the proposed residential area, and to assess possible control or reduction measures.