Fire ants if not eradicated put 30 per cent of Gold Coast population at risk

A bombshell report has revealed the ‘catastrophic risk’ to the Gold Coast population if the fire ant plague descending on the city is not controlled. Full details.

Fire ants must be eradicated from the Gold Coast otherwise there will be a “catastrophic risk” to the population with up to 30 per cent of people being bitten, warns a bombshell report.

City officer research based on overseas and Australian reports including council’s own treatment programs show – in a “conservative estimate” of the council’s infrastructure – that treatment costs would soar to at least $6 million a year.

Council is currently committing $600,000 annually and this week asked for a $300,000 yearly grant from the state government.

From July, the National Fire Ant Eradication Program expected council’s would manage fire ants on their land – this includes the Coast’s vast sporting fields and community assets.

In the City’s submission to the Senate Inquiry into red imported fire ants, it was revealed:

* Between 30 per cent to 60 per cent of people are at risk being stung each year in infested areas if the pest became established – which equates to 194,000 people on the Coast.

* Including the 12 million annual visitors, more than 3 million people would be at risk.

* If those visitors were negatively impacted, the annual cost to tourism would be $176 million.

Concerns are increasing about the need for more funding to stop fire ants on the Gold Coast. Lifestyle committee chair Glenn Tozer says council will seek $300,000 annually from the State Government in a grant.

Mayor Tom Tate as the submission was finalised late last year said only three incidents had been recorded on the City’s safety management system but warned more employees would be exposed.

“Increased lost time injury frequency rates are a concern,” he wrote, in the Senate submission.

“However, it is the catastrophic risk that stings pose through anaphylactic shock – one per cent of the population is at risk – that would be the greatest cost.”

The City has been recognised as a “leader” in fighting fire ants because unlike other councils moved to establish a team – initially allocating $260,000, supporting three casual staff.

In August 2023, the council resolved to add $350,000 for three more fixed-term staff. The team’s target was to treat 1600ha for the 2023/24 financial year. By May 2024, they had treated 2260ha.

Moncrieff LNP MP Angie Bell has accused Labor of wasting four months by failing to act on key Senate inquiry recommendations given in a final report in April.

By not acting, the eradication zone had exploded in size, including south into Tallebudgera Valley, she said.

The "horseshoe" map showing the containment zone for stopping the spread of fire ants from the Gold Coast.

“Labor has failed to implement or act on key recommendations given in the Senate inquiry’s final report back in April,” Ms Bell said.

Council lifestyle committee chair Glenn Tozer says he is concerned about the ongoing cost burden.

“Frankly, I think that despite the council alerting the state and federal government to the issue, and raising the profile of the matter, other levels of government have been too slow to act and that has increased the cost and administrative burden on local councils in Queensland, including ours,” he said.

Council has backed the Local Government Association of Queensland asking the state government to provide $300,000 annually for local fire ant suppression taskforces.

“There is absolutely a need for state and federal government to work more closely with councils on efforts to eradicate this fire ant pest,” Mr Tozer said.

Fire ants postules - a Gold Coast City Council submission raises the real health concerns about the pest.

“That close working relationship should include funding elements, communication elements and broader resourcing actually delivering treatment, safe to the community but toxic to fire ants.”

Asked how confident he was about eradicating the pest from the Coast before the 2032 Olympic Games, Mr Tozer replied: “Because of the slow action ultimately resulting in a containment focus, eradication might be an unreasonable objective.

“But residents can be assured Council will do it’s best to keep people and pets safe in our parks and open spaces. I hope all levels of government can collaborate effectively over coming years, appropriately funding solutions, so that the 2032 Olympics can be a “fire ant free” event.”

The Bulletin is seeking a response from the federal government.

Fire ants, which are native to South America and first discovered in Brisbane in 2001, are considered one of the world’s worst invasive species because of their rapid spread.

They are highly aggressive and will swarm anything which disturbs their nests. Their stings can be fatal in rare circumstances.

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Originally published as Fire ants if not eradicated put 30 per cent of Gold Coast population at risk