The Invasive Species Council has issued an urgent call to boost funding in the fire ant suppression zone, following the alarming discovery of nests on the Sunshine Coast at Nirimba.
‘It’s clear that suppression within the fire ant containment zone is failing and that is leading to more outbreaks outside the fire biosecurity zone,’ said Reece Pianta, Advocacy Manager for the Invasive Species Council.
‘Increasing nest densities across Brisbane and the Gold Coast are resulting in higher risk of fire ants being moved to new areas, undermining the entire eradication program.
‘We have repeatedly warned that, without new funding for residents in Brisbane City and Moreton Bay Council to access free fire ant baits, fire ants would turn up on the Sunshine Coast. Our fears are now reality.
‘On top of this, underfunding has meant that there hasn’t been fire ant eradication work occurring north of Brisbane in the past year, as should have occurred under the government’s eradication plan.
‘We understand this is now occurring but, as always happens with fire ants, government delays lead to further spread of this deadly invasive pest.
‘This latest infestation outside the biosecurity zone follows fire ant nest detections at Oakey, west of Toowoomba, at Wardell and Murwillumbah in NSW and at Caboolture, north of Brisbane.
‘Eradication remains possible, but right now we are losing the war against fire ants.
‘There is no excuse for inaction. The Queensland government must boost suppression taskforce funding.’
Mr Pianta also called on the Albanese government to implement the recommendations of the recent senate inquiry including an urgent review of fire ant eradication funding.
‘Everyone in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales should be out checking for fire ants, particularly if you have had any recent material delivered to your property like soil, turf or mulch,’ he said.
‘Fire ants are one of the world’s worst super pests and, if they are allowed to spread across the continent, their economic impact will be greater than cane toads, rabbits, feral cats and foxes combined.
‘They will devastate Australia’s environment and agriculture, cost our economy over $2 billion annually and we could see up to 650,000 extra medical visits every year as they sting Australians at the park or in the backyard.’
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Background information:
- A member of the community reported 2 nests in a new development site in Nirimba (Bells Creek), Sunshine Coast on 27 May 2024.
- Both nests were destroyed using liquid insecticide on 29 May, and the ants were confirmed as fire ants later that day. Surveillance and broadscale treatment are underway across the area surrounding the detection.
- This is the second time fire ants have been detected on the Sunshine Coast – they were found at Beerwah in 2017. That infestation was destroyed and subsequent surveillance confirmed that the Sunshine Coast has been fire ant free since then until now.
- This fire ant detection is likely the result of fire ant movement in a carrier material – for example, soil.
- $37.5 million has been allocated to Councils for fire ant responsibility regarding suppression efforts from 1 July. This funding falls woefully short of what is needed for Councils to keep this issue under control.
- Fire ants are dark reddish-brown with a darker black-brown abdomen and range in size from two to six millimetres long. Their ant nests are distinctive mounds of loose, crumbly or fluffy-looking soil with a honeycomb appearance, up to 40 centimetres high, with no obvious entrance holes.
- Red imported fire ants can damage electrical and agricultural equipment, sting people, pets and livestock, kill native plants and animals, and damage ecosystems beyond repair.
- A 10-year proposed eradication program has been developed, with $592 million required in the first 4 years. The NSW, Queensland and Commonwealth governments have committed to their portion of funding for this, but the program is still $140 million underfunded because no commitments have been made yet by the Victorian, South Australia, Western Australian, Tasmanian and ACT Governments.
- The 2021 National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program strategic review estimated that at least $200 to $300 million per year will be required for ongoing eradication efforts to achieve eradication by 2032.
- Fire ants can be lethal to humans, are expected to have a $2 billion per year impact on Australia’s economy if they get out of control, will devastate wildlife, cut agricultural output by up to 40% and may cause over one hundred thousand extra medical appointments each year.
- Fire ants can form rafts during flood events, stowaway in freight or soil, or spread by Queen ant flights of around 5 km per year (and up to 30 km in favourable conditions).
- Fire ants came into Australia in the late 90’s in freight from the United States, they were found in 2001. Fire ants are originally from South America.
- Fire ants have spread across most of the southern United States, and are spreading in China at a rate of about 80 km per year. Australia has managed to contain fire ants in south east Queensland for 20 years however under-resourcing has prevented successful eradication.
- Almost all of Australia is climatically suitable for fire ants.