31 March 2021
The Tamborine Mountain community can tackle one of the world’s worst invaders with a fire ant treatment blitz.
The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Tamborine Mountain Landcare and the local Chamber of Commerce are calling on local residents to be a part of the community blitz.
Program General Manager Graeme Dudgeon said fire ant eradication required whole-of-community involvement.
“Fire ants are a pest nobody wants in their backyard,” he said.
“They can seriously damage our environment, economy, agriculture and tourism industries and the Australian way of life.
“Imagine life on Tamborine Mountain with no everyday activities such as barbeques, picnics and sport. This is why we need to work together to take fire ants out.”
With a recent fire ant detection in Tamborine Mountain, Mr Dudgeon said now was the time for the community to come together and stop fire ants from taking hold.
“This blitz will complement eradication treatment underway in parts of the Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Ipswich and western Logan,” he said.
Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Greg Christensen supports the community treatment blitz and the program’s efforts to eradicate fire ants from Scenic Rim.
“The timing of treatment is vital—we need all residents to treat over the same time period to increase the chances of killing any fire ants in the area,” Mr Christensen said.
“We don’t want the pest on our mountain.”
Tamborine Mountain Landcare is also backing the project and has offered use of their headquarters to store the bait.
The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program is a nationally cost-shared program funded by all Australian state and territory governments, and the federal government.