Maroochydore resident demands action on rat infestation

Rats are chewing wires and invading the ceilings at a Maroochydore townhouse complex, with residents blaming overflowing bins at a neighbouring aged care home.

Gary Capps’ neighbours found dozens of dead rats in the yards of the townhouses after "mass baiting" them.

Residents of a Maroochydore townhouse complex are demanding council action over an “awful” rat infestation they say is caused by a neighbouring care home.

Overflowing bins at St Vincent’s Aged Care in Maroochydore located three-metres from the back doors of homes have become a problem for residents at the Toronto apartments at 35 Baden Powell Rd.

Body corporation chairman and resident Gary Capps said he took matters into his own hands after his home was invaded by rats, which threatened the complex’s electrical wiring.

“As soon as it gets dark at night you just hear the squeaking all the time, it is quite awful,” Mr Capps said.

“We can just constantly hear them, the infestation got to the point where it was so bad they actually got into all of the townhouses, once they were in one the just ran through the ceiling.

“I took it into my hands as the body corporate, I got a mass amount of rat bait and put it through every single townhouse, and then we had the stink of dead rats in the walls for months as well as flies.

“They were starting to chew through our wiring and back screen doors.”

Gary Capps in front of his Maroochydore townhouse.

Gary Capps has been taking photos of the overflowing bins at the back of his property for three months.

Mr Capps said he wanted Sunshine Coast Council to step in and have the bins moved away from the homes or order a purpose-built vermin cage.

“(St Vincent’s Aged Care) has done various things to try and reduce the rats,” Mr Capps said.

“But at the end of the day the bins are still there, and they overflowing on a very regular basis.

“The bins should be kept in a vermin-proof enclosure, which they have built, but they don’t put them in the enclosure because they argue the enclosure is far too small as the property has grown.”

Mr Capps said he sent a letter weekly for the past three months to the council about the issue with pictures of the overflowing bins.

A St Vincent’s Aged Care Maroochydore spokesman said the facility was taking steps to minimise the impact the rats were having on the neighbouring properties.

“St Vincent’s Care is aware of the issue raised by neighbours, and we are actively addressing it,” they said.

“Firstly, it’s important to point out that we have had the council’s Town Planning Department review the area twice and they found no breaches of our Waste Management Plan.

“Sunshine Coast Council Environmental Department has also visited the site and have flagged that the Maroochydore area in general is experiencing a high number of vermin complaints.”

The Sunshine Coast Council has been contacted for comment.