Snake makes vacant lot hiss home
A GIANT snake has made itself at home in the unit block next to the infamous Smith St hole, with residents believing the huge reptile is living in mire of the three-storey pit earmarked for a future city.
The site of the former Asti Motel has been vacant for a number of years but recently large snakes have been seen in nearby trees and houses.
Sam Kansal rents out a property at the end of Montoro Ct next to the vacant block and said the snakes are scaring him and his tenants.
“Due to the bush growing next door, we have a lot of snakes coming up to our property,” he said. “They are stopping us at home and in the street because they are on the road, on our balcony and are getting into our roof.”
Mr Kansal said the property owners and the government had rarely tended to the property, which had essentially been claimed by snakes.
“The grass has grown to above the fences in a few places,” Mr Kansal said.
“They have created an environment for the snakes.”
While the snakes haven’t yet made their way into his home Mr Kansal fears it is only a matter of time with the snakes making an appearance two or three times a week.
But he hasn’t had any luck having the snakes removed from government departments. “The department of health had advised me these are very friendly snakes and you need to get used to the snakes. They are not going to harm you in one way or another … I said I am scared of the snakes, they said ‘that’s your problem’,” Mr Kansal said.
“I did receive a call from snake catchers. They said killing snakes is not permitted in the NT and they are not going to catch the snakes because they are not poisonous.
“He said if you’re really scared maybe you shouldn’t live in Darwin, you should live in Palmerston.”