Council map reveals Gold Coast fire ant infestation almost half of city at risk
Almost half of the Gold Coast is now at risk from fire ants – but city officials say by the time eradication efforts begin in 2023 it will be “too late”.
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NEW mapping reveals almost half the Gold Coast is now a biosecurity risk for fire ant infestation.
The state opposition on Wednesday accused the Palaszczuk government of downplaying the threat, with LNP MP Michael Hart warning it could “spread beyond repair”.
In July, the Bulletin revealed the “super pest” was now found in 41 suburbs across the city – more than double the 17 suburbs in 2016 – and would reach as far south as Burleigh by 2024 if left unchecked.
About 47 per cent of the city is considered to be within the fire ant biosecurity zone and an east-west eradication plan is not due to start for another three years.
A council spokeswoman said Biosecurity Queensland was responsible for the eradication of fire ants and “there are currently no eradication attempts underway on the Gold Coast”.
“Biosecurity Queensland is encouraging individuals and organisations to report and self-treat fire ants within the city.”
Despite this, a top government bureaucrat refuted media reports that fire ants had muscled into southern parts of the city.
Fire ants were first detected in Brisbane in 2001 and by 2010 had spread to Alberton and Ormeau in the Coast’s north.
Burleigh MP Michael Hart questioned Agriculture Minister Mark Furner about fire ants during a heated session at an Estimates’ hearing on Wednesday.
Mr Furner was asked to outline what his department was doing “specifically to stop them crossing the border” into NSW.
The Minister replied: “As I said earlier, it is pleasing to see some of the local council areas now working collaboratively in terms of wanting to be engaged.”
Fire ants are considered “one of the world’s most invasive species” because they spread rapidly, are aggressive and have the ability to form dense infestations that prevent areas from being used.
A senior bureaucrat rejected media reporting that the fire ants had spread to the southern Coast.
“However, the three-year strategy has identified, and the steering committee is discussing at the moment, the importance of containment of the pests and preventing them from moving further south into the Gold Coast,” the bureaucrat told Estimates.
“We are currently looking at our options in relation to increasing some effort in that containment area to the north of the Gold Coast.
“In fact, we have had a very successful trial of self-treatment with canegrowers in that northern Gold Coast area which has been very promising. We are looking to do more self-treatment.
“We are looking at a couple of the urban development zones, talking to the property developers about the potential for them to undertake some treatment themselves. It is of obvious interest to them.”
Mr Furner’s office later claimed the fire ant problem “would have been far reaching outside the boundaries of our state” if the department had not taken an east-west approach.
Fire ant biosecurity zones were modified in May 2020 to minimise human-assisted movement.
Outside parliament, Mr Hart told the Bulletin that by the time treatment began on the Coast fire ants would have spread beyond repair.
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“I don’t think that’s dramatising it, it will be too late,” he said.
“I would like to see the Agriculture Department come down to the Gold Coast and treat any infestation they find, but that’s not going to happen under the current minister.”
Mr Furner also hit back at Mr Hart’s comments.
“If Mr Hart ever sought a briefing on the National Fire Ant Program he might actually understand how it works,” he said.
“Following recommendation from a review, the eradication program is working from the western boundary of the fire ant area towards the east.
“Work is already occurring on the Gold Coast to supress ant populations and minimise spread until the eradication program reaches this area.
“The Gold Coast City Council is on board and a range of landholders are on board with the eradication effort, and many residents are doing their prt by reporting fire ants if they find them.
“It’s time for Mr Hart to get on board and actually support this effort instead of making exaggerated claims from the sidelines.”
He added he had also contacted Mr Hart to advise reports of fire ants threatening Burleigh Hill were incorrect.
Robina councillor Hermann Vorster said the fire ant infestation was an extreme concern for council officers.
“I am past the point of frustration, this is now frightening,” he said.
“I have had city officers tell me this is genuinely keeping them up at night.
“This is a frightening situation. If people don’t have access to a park, or the beach, or a nature trail, what else is left in the Gold Coast story? Not much.”
Ormeau councillor Mark Hammel also said he was aware of fire ants closing sports fields for “several months”.
“It is not just rural or semi-rural areas of the Gold Coast that could potentially be impacted,” he said.
“In cities not dissimilar to ours in the United States, people can’t got to their local parks due to fire ant infestations.
“I would had to see this happen on the Gold Coast because we became complacent.”
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