Yarrabilba Community Fire Ant Treatment Blitz
Yarrabilba residents can take part in a community treatment blitz aimed at helping stop the spread of fire ants in their suburb.
The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program—in conjunction with the Yarrabilba community — is running the project, the first of its kind in Australia.
National Program General Manager Graeme Dudgeon said in order for the project to be successful the community needed to work together as one to help stamp out fire ants in Yarrabilba.
“This project will give Yarrabilba residents the chance to treat their properties at the same time as their neighbours, increasing the effectiveness of treatment in the area,” he said.
“We have staff at the Mingle Markets, Yarrabilba Park Run and other locations over the coming weeks and they will be happy to chat with residents about how this treatment blitz will work.
“We are also working with an independent Yarrabilba Community Partnership Group to help define how we work best with Yarrabilba residents because we have one chance to get this right.”
This project complements program treatment already underway across the Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Ipswich and Logan.
Residents who register (https://ants.daf.qld.gov.au/) for the treatment blitz will receive fire ant treatment from the program’s field teams, or a free fire ant treatment kit with instructions on how to treat their own yard.
Registrations close on 15 March 2021.
Program treatment will be completed in the week of 22 March 2021 and residents provided with bait will treat their properties between 26─28 March 2021. A second treatment round will occur in May.
The Yarrabilba fire ant map shows which residential properties will be treated by the program and which will receive bait treatment kits. (https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1542434/yarrabilba-community-fire-ant-treatment-map.pdf)
The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program is a nationally cost-shared program funded by all Australian state and territory governments, and the federal government. The Queensland Government’s funding contribution is 10 percent.
The Program is governed strategically and operationally by a national Steering Committee and independent chair, who work with Biosecurity Queensland to deliver the Program on behalf of the other jurisdictions.
For more information visit daf.qld.gov.au/fireants
or call 13 25 23