Headland-side timber
Decks, balustrades and stair stringers exposed to onshore weather, where paint and sealant break down fastest and moisture gets in first.
Small Headland Village
Termite Inspections in Hastings Point
Hastings Point is barely a dozen streets between the boat ramp and the headland, and I treat it that way — not as a suburb I pass through on the way somewhere bigger. I'm Shannon Kitchener, owner-operator of Local Pest Co, and termite inspections, treatment and prevention here are work I do myself, start to finish.
A village built around the headland
Walk out most front doors in Hastings Point and you're closer to the headland walking track or the boat ramp than you are to a main road. It's a tightly held pocket of the Tweed Coast — a lot of the cottages here have stayed with the same families for years, and turnover is slower than in Pottsville or Cabarita Beach on either side of it. That matters for termite risk, because older beach cottages built low to the ground carry a different risk profile to a newer build, especially after decades of salt-laden weather and creek moisture.
The termite pressure I see most often here isn't really about the sand — it's about moisture. Onshore weather keeps deck timber, stair stringers and low subfloor clearances damp for longer than they'd stay a few kilometres inland, and at the northern end of the village, ground near the Cudgera Creek mouth holds that dampness longer again.
Not a high-rise strip
Hastings Point has stayed low-set and low-key, which is a big part of its appeal — but it also means more exposed timber per property than you'd find in a strata block further up the coast. Externally clad stairs, deck timber and pergolas sit in full weather here, and they're usually the first place I check.
If your place has had a recent deck rebuild, re-stumping or new landscaping, mention it before I start. Disturbed ground and new timber both change what I'm looking for and where.
Subfloor and stump clearance
Many cottages here sit low and close to the ground. I check clearance, ventilation, and any point where soil is bridging up to timber underneath.
Creek-end moisture
Properties toward the Cudgera Creek mouth get extra attention on drainage and ground moisture, which stays elevated longer than blocks further into the village.
Treatment and prevention, in that order
Where I find active termites, the first job is stopping activity — not debating chemical versus non-chemical treatment on the spot. Once that's under control, we work through the right long-term option together; see termite removal vs treatment for how I explain the choices.
For prevention, most Hastings Point properties benefit from clearing gaps under deck timber, keeping garden beds from banking soil against stumps or cladding, and a standing reinspection date rather than waiting for a problem to surface on its own. If you'd rather keep chemical use to a minimum around a family home or holiday-let, ask about the low-chemical options I use.
Signs worth a call, not a wait-and-see
- Stair treads or decking that feel soft, springy or hollow underfoot.
- Fine packed mud in the corners of stumps, piers, or anywhere timber meets the ground.
- Doors or windows that have started sticking since last summer.
- Damp patches under timber that don't line up with recent weather.
Who I do this for
I work with permanent residents, owners who holiday-let their cottage, and buyers weighing up an older Hastings Point property before they commit. If you manage a place remotely, I'll photograph everything and talk you through the findings by phone — you don't need to be standing next to me on the day. More on how I work is on the About Shannon page.
Questions I get asked in Hastings Point
Hastings Point is mostly holiday lets and weekenders — does that change how often I need an inspection?
It changes what I look for more than how often. A tenant moving through every week or two won't necessarily notice or report early signs the way an owner-occupier would, so I still recommend an annual check, ideally timed before your busiest letting season rather than after it.
Does the sea air actually attract termites, or is that just rust and corrosion?
Salt air itself isn't what draws termites in. The real driver is moisture — onshore weather keeps deck timber, stair stringers and low subfloor clearances damp for longer than they'd stay a few kilometres inland, and that damp timber is what termites are after.
We're close to where Cudgera Creek meets the sea — does that put us at higher risk?
Often yes. Low-lying ground near the creek mouth holds moisture longer after rain, so I pay extra attention to drainage and subfloor damp on that end of Hastings Point compared with blocks further back from the water.
I'm looking at an older cottage in the village — what should I check before making an offer?
Ask whether it's had a termite inspection in the last twelve months and whether any previous treatment is documented. If not, I can carry one out as part of your due diligence alongside a broader pre-purchase inspection, before you're locked into a contract.
Do you cover Hastings Point on the same trip as Pottsville and Cabarita Beach?
Usually, yes. Hastings Point sits right between them, so I'm often already working one side or the other and can slot a Hastings Point booking in without you waiting on a dedicated visit.
Related local termite resources
Book a Hastings Point inspection
Call 0405 508 035 and tell me roughly where your place sits in the village — headland side, creek side, or further back — and I'll let you know what to expect before I arrive.
Owner-operated, local, and no call centre in between.