© The Courier MailMatt Grange and his partner Jean Piggins discovered their dream three-bedroom, almost century-old Federation cottage was infested with West Indian drywood termites when they began redecorating.
The NSW Government is so concerned about the colony of West Indian drywood termites it has ordered the compulsory fumigation and will pay the $60,000 cost to rid the Ramsgate house of the insects.
The termites earned their reputation because they spend their lives deep inside a home's woodwork, Fumapest managing director Glenn DuBois said.
Mr DuBois, whose company will fumigate the home next week, said the termites can leave a home near collapse before they are detected.
Matt Grange and his partner Jean Piggins discovered their dream three-bedroom, almost century-old Federation cottage - which they bought six years ago - was infested when they began redecorating.
"I was stripping the wooden wall panels and almost put my fist through the wood," Mr Grange, 35, a painter and decorator, said. He added that the house was apparently infested when a previous owner had hung a painting with a wooden frame from Brazil.
Only two buildings have previously been fumigated for the pest in New South Wales.
But the termite has wreaked havoc in Queensland. The last victim in Brisbane was the Manly Hotel and surrounding shops in May this year.
Fumigation took place under a giant tent-like structure and the hotel had to be shut down for two weeks while the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries dealt with the infestation.
DPI said it has had to deal with around 600 cases of the termite in Queensland since 1979.
The pest has caused considerable economic damage to timber-in-service wherever it has become established.
The termites thrive in humid conditions and are most commonly found in pine, cabinet woods, red cedar and silky oak.
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