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.
On this page you can find further information about:
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.
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.
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?
- View an image of the fire ant biosecurity zones
- View and download the fire ant biosecurity zone map (PDF, 5.2MB)
- Read a full list of suburbs in the fire ant biosecurity zones
Why do we make changes?
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).
