100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Fire ant biosecurity zone created after detection at North Arm

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Survey seeks a name for new city centre suburb

Residents of a booming estate are being asked to come up with a name for a new suburb that will include its emerging city More

Bargain shop name to vanish as part of national rebrand

A discount store chain with multiple locations on the Sunshine Coast is set to be renamed after it was acquired by an international retailer More

Photo of the day: stormy sunrise

'Greals' captured this stormy sunrise at Coes Creek. If you have a photo of the day offering, email photo@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. Photos must be horizontal/landscape and may More

More details revealed as police hunt duo after alleged car theft

New information has been released by police about two persons of interest as they continue investigations into an alleged armed robbery and assault yesterday. Investigations More

‘Suicide Hill’: safety probe launched at junction

Sunshine Coast Council is investigating further safety fixes at a notorious intersection that one resident says is like “Russian roulette” to cross. Local Kerry McLean More

MP urged to reject tourist park after agency response

A state planning agency has raised significant concerns about a proposed tourist park near the Pumicestone Passage, sparking an outcry from a coalition of More

A new fire ant biosecurity zone has been established on the Sunshine Coast, following the detection of multiple nests last month about 35km north of previous recorded sightings.

A National Fire Ant Eradication Program team visited a site at North Arm, near Yandina, on January 17, after a community member reported a suspect nest.

Six nests were destroyed using direct nest injection, and the ants were confirmed by scientists to be fire ants that afternoon.

The new biosecurity zone covers a 5km radius around the site and covers all or parts of Bridges, Cooloolabin, Eerwah Vale, Eumundi, Maroochy River, North Arm, Ninderry, Valdora, Verrierdale, Yandina and Yandina Creek.

The new zone is effective from today and means anyone within it handling or transporting materials that can carry fire ants – such as soil, hay, straw, mulch, manure, quarry materials, turf and potted plants – must follow biosecurity requirements.

Nests were last year detected at Nirimba and Banya, Currimundi and Nirimba, and the threat appeared to have eased before the discovery of nests at North Arm, which is the most northern sighting.

A map showing the 5km fire ant biosecurity zone around North Arm. Picture: Department of Primary Industries

National Fire Ant Eradication Program compliance manager Robert Wilson said the zones functioned as a precautionary measure to prevent fire ant spread into new areas.

“Our teams are actively working in North Arm, Ninderry and surrounding towns, working with the community and businesses to raise awareness about the devastating impacts of fire ants and how to look for and report suspect fire ants and nests,” he said.

“We have engaged affected businesses by phone, in person and online to ensure they are prepared for the changes and understand what the fire ant biosecurity zones and associated movement controls mean.

“We appreciate the community for welcoming and working with us to eradicate fire ants from the region.

Fire ants damage crops (pictured), harm livestock, damage electrical equipment, prey on native species, infest recreational areas and sting people.

“Fire ants are highly mobile and adaptable, often hitching rides in landscaping materials. Moving just one fire ant queen to a new area could lead to an entire community becoming infested.

“Establishing a fire ant biosecurity zone around the North Arm detection will help reduce the risk of human-assisted spread and protect Australia from one of the world’s most invasive pests.”

Residents in the biosecurity zone are strongly urged to look for and report any suspect fire ants or nests within 24 hours, and to ensure any high-risk materials purchased within the zones are produced, processed and stored using fire ant-safe practices.

Businesses must regularly check the zones and comply with associated movement controls, and use fire ant-safe practices before transporting materials from within the zones. If they cannot meet these requirements, they must apply for a biosecurity instrument permit.

Failing to follow biosecurity requirements can result in fines, temporary business closures and legal implications.

Visit the website or call 132 ANT (13 22 68) for more information.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share