Harassment claims as ‘nests’ seen from air turned out to be horse manure

A HORSE stud owner is threatening legal action after Bio­security Queensland ­officers forced their way on to his property to kill fire ants. But their “nests” turned out to be something far less threatening.

A NORTH Maclean horse owner is threatening legal action after two of his ­horses were injured when Bio­security Queensland ­officers forced their way on to his property to kill suspected fire ants.

Gregory Copley said officers broke a padlock on a front gate at his Arthur Rd home and then drove three, large heavy machines on to the acreage property under police guard.

The machines spooked many of his 11 horses. Two were injured, needing veterinary treatment.

Biosecurity Queensland served three notices for access – once in February 2016, again in November that year, and in May this year.

North Maclean resident Gregory Copley is angry about the treatment of his property when authorities were looking for and treating fire ants PICTURE: AAP/Renae Droop

But Mr Copley wrote to Logan state Labor MP Linus Power in March, 2016, notifying him he did not want chemicals dropped on his property as he bred thoroughbred horses and was concerned heavy machines would spook them.

He said his relationship with the department soured when he told them they could only enter to inspect for fire ants.

Mr Copley said if fire ants were found, officers would be allowed to return to treat them. No fire ants have been found on the property but Biosecurity Queensland said nests were found “on the boundary”. His letter of complaint to Mr Power and the former agriculture minister Leanne Donaldson, also explained he felt Biosecurity Queensland was harassing him from the air in helicopters. Biosecurity Queensland officers returned to the property on November 24 last year after which Mr Copley said they had three weeks to conduct their investigations.

“I believed they would get back to me to let me know when they were going to ­return but I did not get any notification until December 13 when they arrived with the police, who did not have warrants, and used bolt cutters to get through the front gate,” Mr Copley said.

“I was told the department had decided not to inspect the site but had authorised fire-ant treatment anyway. This was against my stated wishes and contrary to how the department treated all other local residents. The loud machines were driven at full throttle in all of our horse paddocks.”

Mr Copley said six of his 11 horses sustained serious physical injuries because he was not given notice to secure them. Mr Copley served the department with a $777,035 damages claim.

Biosecurity Queensland said there had been a long-running dispute with Mr Copley over access and police were called to ensure the safety of officers as they entered the property.

Mr Copley said he had never seen fire ants on his property and officers had told him nests spotted from the air ended up being horse manure.