Fire Ant nests found at Broadwater Parklands on Gold Coast, sparking anger from councillors

More than two dozen fire ant nests have been found at the Broadwater Parklands, sparking fury from councillors who say the state is risking ‘economic and ecological disaster’. Full details.

A councillor has accused the state government of allowing a “full invasion” of fire ants into the Gold Coast after the shock discovery of dozens of nests in the Broadwater Parklands.

Biosecurity Queensland on Friday identified 26 nests at the popular park after council officers raised the alarm the previous afternoon, including several near a $5 million playground which opened in August last year.

Affected areas were taped off and warning signs erected throughout the park, while the nests themselves were destroyed by direct injection, which involves flooding nests and tunnels with an approved insecticide.

A warning sign about fire ants beside a playground at the Broadwater Parklands. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Division 6 councillor Brooke Patterson said the state government had “taken the foot off the pedal” of its eradication efforts and “forgotten about the Gold Coast”, allowing the pests to spread rapidly through the city.

“The State’s program is failing and now causing a risk to our way of life,” Cr Patterson said.

“... They are taking what appears to be a very passive role to it. We report something they do something. Rather than seeing the trajectory of this and realising that their program isn’t sufficient to meet the risk.”

An area taped off at the Broadwater Parklands after the discovery of fire ants nests. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Cr Patterson said even more concerning was the fact the ants were now approaching the

Gold Coast’s beaches, where their presence could be devastating.

“These nests have been found in many different areas now. I’ve got them in my sports fields, I’ve got them in the Broadwater Parklands and what’s particularly concerning is they’re getting closer to the beaches,” Cr Patterson said.

“There’s a report from the state government that once they reach the beaches the beaches can be deemed unusable.”

Division 6 councillor Brooke Patterson said the state government had not done enough to halt the spread of the ants on the Gold Coast. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Cr Patterson’s concerns were shared by Division 11 councillor Hermann Vorster, who warned of an “economic and ecological disaster” if fire ants reached beaches.

“The (state’s) ten year eradication program is failing,” Cr Vorster said. “They must wake up to the risk now or risk permanent economic and ecological disaster.

“Fire ants can make beaches unusable. Let that sink in.”

Fire ants have been spreading rapidly throughout the Gold Coast.

Biosecurity Queensland, which is working to control the spread of fire ants, is part of the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries.

Minister Mark Furner told the Bulletin government’s eradication program was “the most successful anywhere in the world”, but a “whole of community” approach was needed to deal with the pests.

“I have been advised that the National Fire Ant Eradication Program has worked with City of Gold Coast Council yesterday (Friday) to survey Broadwater Parklands, located in fire ant biosecurity zone 2,” Minister Furner said.

“Fire ant nests were located and treated.

“The program has also taken a sample of the ants for genetic testing.

“This nationally-led program – a partnership between the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments – is the most successful anywhere in the world.

“No other place in the world has contained fire ants as successfully as this program has done it here. It is a world leader.

“Eradicating fire ants requires a whole-of-community approach. This means community, business, industry and all levels of government working together to protect Australia from this invasive pest.”

26 nests were detected at the Broadwater Parklands. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

News of the discovery at the Broadwater Parklands comes after it was last month revealed nests had been found at Miami State School as fire ants continue their relentless advance across the city.

The ants, which originate in South America, were first detected in Brisbane in 2001 and in Alberton on the Gold Coast five years later.

They are copper brown in colour and have a darker abdomen and measure 2–6 mm in length with a variety of sizes found in each nest.

Fire ant nests appear as mounds or patches of loose soil and have no obvious entry or exit holes. The ants are attracted to disturbed soil and can be transported through the human-assisted movement of organic materials.

They are known to be highly aggressive and swarm when their nests are disturbed. Their stings cause a painful burning sensation that lasts up to one hour.

In rare cases, they can cause a severe allergic reaction which can be fatal.

To report suspected nests or learn more visit www.fireants.org.au or call 13 25 23.

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