The Queensland Government is intensifying efforts to halt the spread of fire ants with a record $24 million in additional funding to be spent treating infestations on larger properties.
Treatments will be activated across 212,000 hectares within South-East Queensland’s fire ant suppression zone – including the Scenic Rim electorate – over the next two years.
Member for Scenic Rim, Jon Krause, said eligible properties of 10 hectares or greater in highly infested areas would have an option to receive free aerial treatment twice over the next two years.
“If left untreated, fire ants can have devastating impacts on the economy, environment, health, and our outdoor way of life,” he said.
“They can destroy crops, gardens and parks, and endanger people, animals and pets.
“The fast and effective treatment for larger properties will boost eradication efforts by reducing ant density in hard-to-treat colonies by as much as 80 per cent in the suppression zone.”