Community fire ant treatment projects

People across South East Queensland are working with us to help fight fire ants in their backyards and neighbourhoods.

The projects are exploring how to best treat the pest in urban and peri-urban neighbourhoods.

resident self treating backyard grass

These projects give residents who want to treat their properties for fire ants a chance to do so for free. You don't need to have fire ants to take part.

By working together, we have a better chance of stopping the spread of fire ants.

Calamvale treatment project

People who live in or manage public spaces in Brisbane City Council’s Calamvale ward can now take control of their own fire ant treatment.

Distance Plus fire ant bait shaker on garden bed

Suburbs include:

  • Algester
  • Calamvale
  • Drewvale
  • Forest Lake
  • Heathwood
  • Karawatha
  • Larapinta
  • Pallara
  • Parkinson
  • Stretton
  • Willawong

If you are in one of these suburbs you have two options:

  • Find and report fire ants to us— we will come and destroy any nests you report and leave you a fire ant treatment kit to use later.
  • Reduce the chance of fire ants moving in — collect a fire ant treatment kit from the Calamvale ward office or the Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre. Please bring proof of address such as rates notice, driver’s licence or a utility bill.

The treatment kit is free and will include enough bait to treat your property twice and detailed instructions on how to do so.

All eligible persons can collect two fire ant treatment kits between 18 October 2021 and March 2022 from:

Calamvale Ward Office map location
Calamvale ward office
Shop 10, 168 Algester Road, Calamvale
Weekdays, 9am–4.45pm

or

Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre map location
Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre
149 Acacia Rd, Karawatha
Tuesday to Sunday, 9am–4pm

Learn more about fire ants and why it’s important we work together to fight them.

Find out more

Gold Coast treatment project

People who live in or manage public spaces in target Gold Coast suburbs can complete fire ant treatment on their own properties.

Fire ant treatment sticker on mailbox, letterbox

The target suburbs are:

  • Arundel
  • Parkwood
  • Pacific Pines
  • Maudsland
  • Molendinar
  • Gaven

Weather delays fire ant treatment

Due to the flood emergency in South East Queensland, we are delaying our community treatment activities on the Gold Coast. We will still be treating all front yards in target suburbs and delivering bait treatment kits to those who placed a sticker on their letterbox but, this will happen a little later than planned. If you already have your treatment kits, please do not use it until the ground is dry and there is minimal chance of rain. Rain and fire ant bait don’t mix.

If you live in one of these suburbs, you will receive an easy-to-remove letterbox sticker in the post before each treatment round (November 2021 and February 2022). Put this sticker on your letterbox if you are willing to help treat your property for fire ants.

Gold Coast community suppression project, program staff treating front yard resident treating back yard

We will get you started by treating your front yard.

If we see your fire ant sticker on your letterbox we will leave you a free fire ant treatment kit so you can treat your backyard or the area behind your fence line.

If you placed a sticker on your letterbox for the first treatment round and it is still intact, there is no need to update it for the second round.

Did not receive your fire ant treatment sticker in mid-February?

Please let us know at fireants@daf.qld.gov.au

Tamborine Mountain treatment project

Tamborine Mountain residents can once again help to stop fire ants moving onto the Mountain by treating their properties for free. This follows on from the success of the first community treatment project in May 2021.

Tamborine Visitor and Information Centre at Doughty Park, Tamborine Mountain map

If you live in one of the suburbs below, you can collect your free fire ant treatment kit from:

Tamborine Mountain Visitor and Information Centre in Doughty Park, Tamborine Mountain

The collection times are Monday to Friday, 10am–3pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am –4pm.

The target suburbs are:

  • Eagle Heights
  • North Tamborine
  • Mount Tamborine

All eligible persons can collect two fire ant treatment kits between 18 October 2021 and May 2022. Please bring proof of address such as rates notice, driver’s licence or a utility bill.