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Discovery of fire ant nest at New Farm park reflects growing need to deal with threat, group says

Last week, the Invasive Species Council said fire ant nests had been detected and destroyed in World Heritage rainforest in the Gold Coast hinterland. The ants have also been detected on sporting fields across Brisbane and surrounds, including at Mount Gravatt, Rocklea, Coorparoo and the Redlands.

That’s an iconic location in Brisbane. If we don’t eradicate fire ants, this is going to happen everywhere in the country. Brisbane is getting a taste of it now.

Local sporting clubs need to be alert to this. For the time being it’s an increased maintenance burden for them.

An insecticide which instantly kills fire ants was injected directly into the nest. The affected area was temporarily closed while treatment was under way but has since reopened and is safe to use.