Residents say rats are ’everywhere’ in Sydney suburb as rubbish overflows from bins

Residents in an affluent Sydney suburb have complained their area is becoming so overrun with rats, tourists are even photographing them.

A confused resident has posted to a local Facebook group after seeing people in her local area photographing a rat on the street.

The resident’s photos show three people crowding around the rat and taking pictures of the fearless rodent outside a backpackers hostel on Darlinghurst Road in Potts Point.

Comments on the post complained of more fearless rodents flowing into the wealthy Sydney suburb and finding ways to evade poisoning and traps.

“Just wondering if there are people that are actually pro-rat life in the area?” the woman wrote. “Council did not seem to think that people seeing this affects their food businesses, so therefore not refilling rat baits in the laneway and surrounds.

“I saw one (rat) the other day strolling on the footpath on Darlinghurst Road in broad daylight.”

The photo shows people crowding around the rat.

The post asked if the rats were damaging business.

And residents say this rodent is not alone.

“Once people took enough photos, no one took it with them,” the woman wrote in another comment. “It eventually went down the drain.”

“It’s probably a pet,” one commenter wrote.

“I’ve seen two on two different streets during the day in the last week,” another commenter wrote.

“The rats are everywhere,” another commenter wrote. “Few families in Evans Road. I contacted the Council and that is a (waste) of energy. Seems like it is just accepted by all,” he wrote, followed by a sad face emoji.

“They are now in our apartments in the older buildings up the plumbing cores and into the Kitchen cupboards!” another resident said.

“They come up to our second floor balcony all the time,” another said. “Love parsley and leave blunt stalks! I’m pretty sure one retail store had a rat visit one evening, either that or a very large spider! I saw the owner armed with a broom trying to find it and get rid of it!” another commenter said.

“We have poison boxes on each fire exit landing … but the rats get in from inside ...... Little bastards!” another said.

Another commenter asked 'is it any wonder?' with rubbish dumped by her home.

The next day she said even more rubbish had been added to the pile.

“Pro-rat-life here … despise the baits,” one commenter offered. “Would much prefer residents and businesses maintain adequate cleanliness, and we just cope with a few Ratatouille’s around.”

“Is it any wonder when this has been here for 3 days and will probably be here next week," another commenter wrote, sharing a photo of hard rubbish, pizza boxes and garbage bags piled on the street.”

The next day she shared an update, saying more had been added to the pile.

The City of Sydney Council has a fact sheet regarding rodents, titled “The Facts on Rats in the City”, which says there’s no accurate way to count the rats in Sydney.

“City staff say there doesn’t appear to be any recent increase in numbers of rats,” the sheet reads.

Rat control measures include regular rubbish collection around the city and the city’s parks.

“We are currently working with residents and businesses in Llankelly Place, Kings Cross, to stop bins being left on the street between collections.

“Winter is the most active time of year for rats feeding.

“Generally, rats will seek out food and water close to the nest or in familiar locations.”