Pest control in Cockatoo

Wright Forest's possums

North-west of the town, Wright Forest is a 161-hectare fauna sanctuary managed by Parks Victoria. Brushtail possums and wombats live there, and the Ash Wednesday fire scars still show on some trunks. About a fourteenth of Cockatoo is park or reserve on the planning maps.

A brushtail that moves from the forest into a roof can be trapped humanely, with a trap from the council or a licensed wildlife controller. It must then be released on the same property, within 50 m. Moving it further is prohibited, and lethal control needs an Authority to Control Wildlife. Possums covers sealing the roof afterwards.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Cockatoo, Victoria, Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb and Victorian Government: brushtail possum management methods.

The shopping centre

Cockatoo's community shopping centre has a supermarket, a smokehouse, cafés and takeaway shops. Each of them has to take all practicable measures to keep pests out and to eradicate any that get in. The duty is in clause 24 of Standard 3.2.2 of the Food Standards Code.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Cockatoo, Victoria and Food Standards Code, Standard 3.2.2, clause 24.

Green wedge on the outskirts

Two fifths of Cockatoo is green wedge and farming zone, and about a third more is rural conservation. Rabbits are declared established pest animals under the Catchment and Land Protection Act, and the landowner must take reasonable steps to stop their spread and, as far as possible, get rid of them. Cardinia also leaves myna control to the landholder.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, Cardinia Shire Council: problem animals and Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), s.20 (authorised version 072).

Before you build or buy

Cardinia notes termite-prone properties one by one, on the property information certificate, so check it for the address. Termite management for new buildings follows AS 3660.1. An inspection of an existing house follows AS 4349.3 and is mainly non-invasive. Termites sets out both, and who to call sorts the job to the right licence.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Cardinia Shire Council: building and property applications, Standards Australia: AS 3660.1:2014 and Standards Australia: AS 4349.3-2010.

Past Cockatoo's edges

Emerald and Gembrook

Cardinia as well, with the same property certificate and the same rules on rabbits.

Macclesfield

Yarra Ranges, where the whole shire is a designated termite area.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Cockatoo, Victoria, Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, Cardinia Shire Council: building and property applications, Cardinia Shire Council: problem animals and Yarra Ranges Council: termites.