ALMOST all of Logan City is now under fire ant restrictions and the biting pests have entered Australia’s premier beach resort, the Gold Coast.
The State Government has added Gold Coast City Council’s Coomera and Upper Coomera, just off Logan City’s southern boundary, and Woodhill and Allenview in the Scenic Rim to Jimboomba’s southwest after outbreaks were discovered.
The total area under restrictions covers 401,571ha, up from 380,196ha about nine months ago. About 1 per cent of this area had nests, all of which had been treated.
All of Logan City is subject to fire ant restrictions except for Veresdale and Veresdale Scrub, with notifications sent last week to more than 12,000 households in Carbrook, Beenleigh, Eagleby and Tamborine, advising residents they were now in a high-risk restricted area.
Restrictions apply to the movement of items like soil, mulch, hay, turf, manure and green waste.
Fire Ant Eradication program director Sarah Corcoran said although restrictions covered a substantial area, there were few nests within the zone.
A large area was under restrictions because of the need to set buffer zones around places that could harbour ants.
“Woodhill has gone from having no restrictions straight into high risk because we found a reasonable size outbreak,’’ she said.
Staff conducted a demonstration for locals last week on detection and how nests were wiped out.
Other areas hit hard were Ipswich and Brisbane but Ms Corcoran also had concerns about Norwell, Pimpama and Woongoolba.
About 90 per cent of the public was aware of fire ants and that people should not transport high-risk materials in infested areas. “Possibly people are spreading them unwittingly,’’ she said.
