7 June 2024.
Since the discovery of fire ant nests at the Swartz Army Barracks in the agricultural town of Oakey, primary producers have been on high alert. More recently, fire ants have been discovered at Meringandan on the outskirts of Toowoomba, and at Nirimba on the Sunshine Coast.
The discovery of these outbreaks in rapid succession raises alarm over build-up of fire ants in the suppression zone.
So, what is the suppression zone?
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program has established two biosecurity zones. Zone 1 covers suburbs that have received or are scheduled to receive fire ant eradication treatment. Zone 2 covers suburbs yet to receive eradication treatment.
The suppression zone is an area that covers more than 650 000 hectares in both Biosecurity Zone 1 and 2, where suburbs are waiting for eradication treatment. This area is managed by the Fire Ant Suppression Taskforce (FAST). FAST is focused on providing skills and knowledge for landholders to “self-manage” fire ants on land they own, and for eradication and informing communities on management and stopping the spread.
AgForce Biosecurity Senior Policy Director, Dr Annie Ruttledge says this approach will not be enough to stop the future spread of fire ants.
“The most heavily infested area of fire ants in our nation is currently under self-management.
“In the case of large landholders and businesses trading in organic materials, like primary producers, this can be a considerable financial strain.
“However, our real concern is whether the heart of the fire ant infestation should be under self-management – when everyone is responsible, who is really in charge?
“We are not looking to lay blame or find fault. We have regular positive interactions with the program staff and its leaders, and don’t want to downplay their commitment and hard work. But the basic situation is that time is running out and eradication teams can’t focus only on the narrow perimeter of the problem.”
With reporting and eradication being a large responsibility for landholders, there is also concern publicly owned land is not being adequately managed.
Invasive Species Council Advocacy Manager Reece Pianta says some local councils are underfunded to manage public areas like transport corridors, defence land and council-owned land.
“It is a community responsibility to manage land for biosecurity risk and that includes government departments.
“We need to make sure that they’re being a good neighbour as well.”
In Texas (U.S.A), where fire ants are a serious pest, experience has shown that coordinated, neighbourhood-focused programs result in better management of fire ants, often involving arrangements with licenced pest controllers, who have access to a wider range of treatment products, and can coordinate selected treatments, reducing the reliance on individuals who may be unable to assist.
As suggested by AgForce Biosecurity Committee Board President Belinda Callanan, another alternative is using citizen scientists.
In this proposal, people across suburbs in the suppression zone undertake training to equip them with the skills to detect fire ant nests and administer bait. It would mean landholders would be visited by someone in their own community in a timely manner after reporting a suspected nest. They would then supply bait to the landholder and educate on how to use it effectively. A key part of this initiative also involves a follow-up with the landholder, to ensure the infestation is under control.
“They need to have citizen scientists in the area who can verify the ant sightings - some people would even volunteer,” says Mrs Callanan.
“All stakeholders really need to pick up their game, biosecurity is everyone’s business – however, when people are time poor and during a cost-of-living crisis, we can’t rely on the general public to be in charge of controlling fire ants in the nations heaviest infestation.”
Fire Ant warning signs at Meringandan West, close to where nests were recently found.