Biosecurity requirements have affected the disposal of green waste from two Sunshine Coast fire ant zones.
A biosecurity zone was declared on the southern end of the Coast after the discovery of fire ant nests in Nirimba in May last year and another zone was declared after nests were found on a North Arm building site in January.
Green waste from within both zones is being directed to the Caloundra Landfill and Recovery Centre, which is the only Sunshine Coast Council tip within a fire ant zone.
This means material collected by the council’s waste contractors from green waste bins within both zones is being delivered to the Caloundra tip only.
Householders and businesses wishing to dump green waste from within the zones themselves must also take it to the Caloundra tip.
For those in the zone that includes parts of North Arm, Verrierdale, Eerwah Vale, Cooloolabin, Bridges, Ninderry, Valdora and Yandina Creek, this means bypassing closer landfill sites at Nambour and Buderim to go to Caloundra.
A council spokesperson said green waste was considered a possible fire ant carrier.
“Under the Biosecurity Act and Biosecurity Regulation 2016, it is illegal to move a fire ant carrier (such as soil or green waste) from within a declared fire ant biosecurity zone to a place outside of the zone, unless you have a Biosecurity Instrument Permit or follow strict protocols,” the spokesperson said.
“To comply with regulations, green waste and soil from within fire ant biosecurity zones are only being accepted at the Caloundra Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre, which is also inside a fire ant biosecurity zone.
“Green bins from fire ant biosecurity zones are also only being transported to the Caloundra facility.
“Council has a comprehensive fire ant detection and preventative treatment regime for all soil and green waste at the Caloundra facility to stop fire ants from spreading beyond biosecurity zones.
“These measures also make mulch from this facility safe for public use.”
The spokesperson said a preventative substance was applied to the ground but not the green waste.
“Council treats the area around green waste on a regular schedule, rather than the material itself,” the spokesperson said.
“This treatment is an insect growth regulator, in accordance with biosecurity requirements and following safety protocols.
“Council also turns green waste on a strict regime. Together, this approach prevents fire ants that may be in the material from reproducing.”
Sunshine Coast News was referred to the National Fire Ant Eradication Program’s website for information about preventative products.
The website says insect growth regulator treatment contains five grams per kilogram of pyriproxyfen or S-methoprene.
“These ingredients are used in household and agricultural pest control products, such as fly spray and pet flea tablets,” it says.
