Pest control in The Basin

A bowl in the forest edge

The Basin takes its name from the hills around it. It sits in the forested foothills of Mount Dandenong and the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Doongalla Forest included, and its houses share the ground with bushy parks like Wicks Reserve and some farmland. A quarter of the suburb is zoned rural living and conservation on the planning maps, and its residential streets all carry an environmental significance overlay.

Houses this close to forest get possums in the roof. Brushtails are protected: one can be trapped humanely and let go the same day on the same property, within 50 m, and moving it further is against the law. Knox doesn't hire out traps. The lasting fix is closing the gap it came in by, which Possums walks through.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: The Basin, Victoria, Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, Victorian Government: brushtail possum management methods, Manningham Council: native animals and insects and Knox City Council: pest animals and insects.

Knox and the termite statement

The Basin is wholly in the City of Knox. Before Knox issues a building permit, the owner signs a termite statement for the work. For a house that is already standing, a timber pest inspection is the check people use, and termite treatment has to be done by a pest controller whose licence covers timber pests. Termites sets out the standards.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: The Basin, Victoria, Knox City Council: termite statement checklist, Standards Australia: AS 4349.3-2010 and Department of Health: pest control licence applications.

The Triangle's kitchens

Shops and restaurants line two sides of The Basin Triangle: two pubs, cafés, a butcher, a greengrocer, a wine bar and a fish and chip shop among them. Each of those kitchens is bound by the Food Standards Code to take every practicable step to keep pests out and to eradicate any that get in.

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

Nests on public land, and mynas

A wasp nest in a Knox park or reserve is the council's to look at, through Parks Services on 9298 8000. One on your own land is yours, and Knox advises leaving it alone if you react to stings. Knox also runs a trap program for Indian mynas.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Knox City Council: pest infestations and Knox City Council: pest animals and insects.

Where the council changes

Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully

Knox again, mostly, so the same termite statement and the same Parks Services number.

Sassafras, Tremont and Kilsyth

Wholly or mostly Yarra Ranges, where the whole shire is a designated termite area. Kilsyth has a smaller part in Maroondah, and Sassafras a smaller part in Knox.

Kilsyth South

Maroondah, also designated from end to end, since 2005.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: The Basin, Victoria, Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, Yarra Ranges Council: termites and Maroondah City Council: termite protection.