Eradication treatment

It is our goal to eliminate fire ants by conducting eradication treatment on all targeted properties. To ensure eradication success, we must treat 100% of all properties multiple times.

Eradication treatment is underway in parts of the Southern Downs, Scenic Rim and southern Gold Coast. Fire ant treatment is safe for humans and animals.

fire ant field staff, residential home, Australian backyard, sunshine, sunny, grass, house

Eradication is the only way to protect Australia from fire ants and the devastating impacts they can have on our way of life.

Under Australia’s new Fire Ant Response Plan 2023–27, we will conduct eradication treatment on one section of Queensland’s fire ant infestation at a time.

Our current eradication area is a 10 km strip that wraps around the inside of our containment band.

Treatment will be conducted between September 2023 and June 2024, whether fire ants are visible or not.

The first areas to receive eradication treatment in 2023–24 will be suburbs comprising parts of the Southern Downs, Scenic Rim and the southern Gold Coast.

There will be no cost to you when we treat your property.

Fire Ant Response Plan 2023-27 Map

Fire Ant Response Plan 2023–27 map  (PDF, 1.42MB)

All properties in our eradication area must receive 100% treatment coverage and this needs to be conducted at a similar time to all neighbouring properties.

Properties in the treatment band will receive up to 6 rounds of treatment over 2 years, followed by 5 years of targeted surveillance.


Treatment methods

Eradication treatment is delivered using one or more of the following methods:

  • on foot with hand-held spreaders
  • aircraft
  • utility-terrain vehicles.

Want to know if your property is in a targeted treatment area this year?