Meet Shannon Kitchener

Shannon's Background and Why He Chose Pest Control

Local Pest Co is built around a simple idea: local people deserve practical pest advice from the person actually doing the work. Shannon Kitchener has worked across the Tweed Coast for years and saw first-hand how often homeowners were left with confusing recommendations, changing technicians, and little continuity from one visit to the next. He started Local Pest Co to offer the opposite — direct communication, honest scope, and long-term protection planning grounded in local conditions.

Shannon's path into pest control came through hands-on field experience, property risk assessment, and a strong focus on timber pest behaviour in coastal environments. Kingscliff homes face a particular mix of termite pressure factors, including humidity, vegetation, and moisture-retaining zones around slab edges and subfloors — the same pattern explored in the termite knowledge centre. That local pattern recognition is what informs his inspection style and treatment planning today.

When clients call, they speak with Shannon. When the inspection happens, Shannon is onsite. And when follow-up is needed, the same person who saw the property first is the person advising what to do next.

What Makes Local Pest Co Different and What Clients Can Expect

Unlike large franchise or call-centre models, Local Pest Co is fully owner-operated. That means no rotating subcontractors and no scripted upsell process. Shannon assesses each property personally, explains findings in plain language, and gives recommendations based on what the home actually needs. Clients are never left wondering who to call for updates or follow-up.

Staying owner-operated also means being honest about scale. Shannon doesn't take on massive jobs — large commercial sites, multi-building complexes or work that really needs a crew. When one of those comes in, he says so upfront and refers it to operators he trusts, rather than stretching himself thin or handing it to a subcontractor.

That honesty works the other way too. A local homeowner once asked Shannon for a second opinion after a larger pest company told them they had termites and quoted for treatment. His inspection found it wasn't termites at all, and the owner was spared the cost of a treatment they didn't need. If you are holding a termite quote and want an independent look before you pay, Shannon is glad to take that call.

Shannon holds NSW EPA pest management licence 5073077, including the PMT-TP Pest Management Technician (Timber Pest Control) class. He is licensed to provide timber pest inspection and treatment services, and keeps reporting practical for homeowners, landlords and property managers who need clear records.

Shannon has also added a thermal imaging camera to the kit he brings to a job, specifically for the properties that need it. A wet-area wall that's had you second-guessing yourself for months, or a ceiling below a roof that's taken storm damage — rather than leaving those as an open question, he reads the surface temperature first and follows up on anything that stands out. Where a subfloor or roof void can't be entered safely, he says so plainly and records it in the report rather than guessing. See thermal imaging detection for how it's actually used.

Clients can expect punctual communication, transparent scope, straightforward pricing, and a prevention mindset that continues after the first visit. The goal is not just to respond to a current issue, but to reduce the chance of the same issue returning in six months.

Cultural Leadership & Community Stewardship

Shannon is actively involved in cultural and community life across the Tweed region. In July 2026, Shannon joined Uncle Victor and Uncle Garry in leading the Welcome to Country at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, sharing culture and ceremonial traditions with students and teachers.

He has also championed diversity and charitable causes in outdoor recreation, including providing custom fish-art engraved fly boxes to support an inaugural women's saltwater fly-fishing trip (FlyLife, Dec 2017) and supporting the Forster Fly Muster for men's mental health.

Read Shannon's Full Art & Community Profile →