Fire ant biosecurity zones

Fire ant biosecurity zones are in place to help prevent fire ants from spreading through human-assisted movement.

Fire ants move quite slowly on their own, but people speed them up.

Our fire ant biosecurity zones are in place to help prevent the human-assisted spread of fire ants through the movement of organic materials.


What are fire ant biosecurity zones?

Fire ant biosecurity zones apply to all individuals and businesses who work with organic materials sourced from within South East Queensland’s fire ant infestation. This includes soil, hay, mulch, manure, quarry materials, turf and potted plants.

Fire ants crawling in a hay bale with a tractor in the background.

There are 2 fire ant 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.

New suburbs were recently added to the zones. Some other suburbs have changed zones.

If you are working with organic materials you are legally obliged to check the fire ant biosecurity zones and use fire ant-safe practices before moving them to a new location (Biosecurity Regulation 2016).

If you are unable to do so, you must apply for a biosecurity instrument permit.

Penalties can also apply to individuals and businesses that do not use fire ant-safe practices before moving materials. Noticed someone doing the wrong thing? Let us know by calling 13 25 23 or using our online form.

These rules apply to everyone

These rules apply to anyone residing or working within the fire ant biosecurity zones. You do not need to see fire ants or their nests for the zones to apply.


Fire ant biosecurity zone map

The fire ant biosecurity zones cover a section of South East Queensland, encompassing nine local government areas.

Type in an address to find out if the property is located in the fire ant biosecurity zones.

Having issues using our interactive map or want to learn more about how the zones impact you?

Moving materials within or outside of Queensland?

If you live in a fire ant biosecurity zone and are wanting to move materials intra or interstate, restrictions apply.


Why do we make changes?

Women and man wearing hi vis and personal protection equipment on a digger discussion paperwork.

Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, we are able to amend the zones as needed, to reduce the risk of fire ants spreading.

Fire ant biosecurity zones are one of the key tools we use in controlling the human-assisted spread of fire ants.

They reduce the chance of fire ants travelling to suburbs that are receiving eradication treatment, new suburbs, or worse, suburbs that are outside of the fire ant biosecurity zones.

New areas will be added for one of more reasons, including that:

  • there has been an infestation in the suburb within the last two years
  • the suburb is at risk of infestation from a neighbouring suburb
    or
  • the suburb is subjected to our eradication or clearance activities.

Summary of recent fire ant biosecurity zone changes

On 1 September 2022, we made changes to the fire ant biosecurity zones.

Our changes included adding new suburbs to the zones and moving several suburbs from zone 2 to zone 1.

View our fire ant biosecurity zone changes webinars to find out what the changes mean to you and your industry.

Zone 1

Local government area

Lockyer Waters

Lockyer Valley

Aratula

Scenic Rim

Charlwood

Scenic Rim

Fassifern Valley

Scenic Rim

Morwincha

Scenic Rim

Atkinsons Dam

Somerset

Coominya

Somerset

Zone 2

Local government area

Albion

Brisbane City

Auchenflower

Brisbane City

Bald Hills

Brisbane City

Boondall

Brisbane City

Bracken Ridge

Brisbane City

Brighton

Brisbane City

Carseldine

Brisbane City

Clayfield

Brisbane City

Deagon

Brisbane City

Fitzgibbon

Brisbane City

Fortitude Valley

Brisbane City

Gordon Park

Brisbane City

Kalinga

Brisbane City

Kedron

Brisbane City

Lutwyche

Brisbane City

Milton

Brisbane City

Northgate

Brisbane City

Nundah

Brisbane City

Paddington

Brisbane City

Petrie Terrace

Brisbane City

Sandgate

Brisbane City

Shorncliffe

Brisbane City

Spring Hill

Brisbane City

Taigum

Brisbane City

Virginia

Brisbane City

Wavell Heights

Brisbane City

Wooloowin

Brisbane City

Zillmere

Brisbane City

Arana Hills

Moreton Bay

Bray Park

Moreton Bay

Brendale

Moreton Bay

Camp Mountain

Moreton Bay

Clontarf

Moreton Bay

Ferny Hills

Moreton Bay

Griffin

Moreton Bay

Kallangur

Moreton Bay

Kippa-Ring

Moreton Bay

Lawnton

Moreton Bay

Mango Hill

Moreton Bay

Murrumba Downs

Moreton Bay

North Lakes

Moreton Bay

Petrie

Moreton Bay

Rothwell

Moreton Bay

Samford Valley

Moreton Bay

Samford Village

Moreton Bay

Strathpine

Moreton Bay

Warner

Moreton Bay

Allandale

Scenic Rim

Boonah

Scenic Rim

Dugandan

Scenic Rim

Hoya

Scenic Rim

Kents Pocket

Scenic Rim

Milford

Scenic Rim

Suburb

From

To

Haigslea

Zone 1

Zone 2

Lyons

Zone 1

Zone 2

South Ripley

Zone 1

Zone 2

Thagoona

Zone 1

Zone 2

Wyaralong

Zone 2

Zone 1

Moreton Bay Regional Council waste facilities

A biosecurity instrument permit (PDF, 175.6KB) is in place for people who live or operate in Moreton Bay Regional Council suburbs located in fire ant biosecurity zone 2.

The permit allows you to move materials that can carry fire ants directly to either the Dakabin or Bunya waste facilities without applying for a permit.

The permit has been issued to allow continuity for residents and operates for the following reasons:

  • These 2 facilities receive most of the waste for MBRC.
  • MBRC will be mitigating the risk in accordance with the Biosecurity Regulation 2016 in regard to material movement controls.
  • We will be conducting treatment at regular intervals at both facilities.

Download the information notice (PDF, 76.8KB).


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