Advertisement

Mice-infested Hoyts ordered to clean up

Cinema chain Hoyts has been issued with legal directives to clean up and improve its Carousel complex after cinemagoers launched a social media storm over a rodent infestation of one of its premier class theatres this week.

Environmental health inspectors have visited Hoyts Carousel several times since the infestation was revealed on Tuesday.

Hoyts said the affected theatre reopened today after “eradication and preventative measures recommended to us by the City of Canning” were taken.

The City of Canning said it had issued a written direction to Hoyts Management to make sure the premises were thoroughly and effectively cleaned.

It also said Hoyts management were required to clean all theatres in the cinema and implement a comprehensive pest control program, which would have to be certified by an independent pest controller.

“Whilst Hoyts Management have used rodent baits consistently, it is important that a more comprehensive approach is taken, which includes addressing the storage of old equipment which can be used to harbour rodents, and blocking small holes in walls around service pipes that provide an avenue to the rodents entering the building from the outside,” the City of Canning said in a statement.

The council said it would also issue an improvement notice under the Food Act 2008 to Hoyts Management regarding the cleanliness of the complex’s food preparation areas and to make sure they met food safety standards.

“Whilst the City has had cooperation from Hoyts Management, it is important that these requirements are formalised in statutory notices, meaning that further action may result, if the work is not carried out,” the statement said.

Two cinemagoers posted a photograph and a video of rodents in Hoyts Carousel’s La Premiere cinema, where seats for two people cost $60, over the Easter weekend.

Sue Donnelly posted a photograph of a mouse she said she took on Monday.

“I was absolutely disgusted to find our cinema crawling with rats/mice, ” Ms Donnelly said. “My granddaughter flicked away two mice.

“Upon complaining at the front desk about the infestation, I was told the problem was already known about and nothing could be done by an exterminator for two weeks.

“To add to my disgust when I returned to my seat one of the vermin was eating her chips.”

Jake Moore posted a video of a mouse sitting on the edge of a bowl and eating his dessert. He said he filmed the vision in the Hoyts Carousel La Premiere over the Easter weekend. Other Hoyts Carousel patrons said on Facebook they too had seen rodents in the cinema and had told staff.

Hoyts said today the eradication and prevention measures will continue throughout the complex to ensure that any and all measures are taken to prevent this type of incident from occurring in future.