Fire ant biosecurity zones

Fire ants are a dangerous imported pest that can severely damage the environment, our outdoor lifestyle, and the agriculture and tourism industries.

Queensland’s fire ant biosecurity zones align with the Interstate Plant Quarantine (IPQ) zones. These zones are reviewed monthly and updated based on fire ant detections.

For an interactive map and up-to-date zoning information refer to National Fire Ant Eradication Program.

Anyone working with or moving organic materials need to be familiar with these zones and their general biosecurity obligation (GBO). Some examples of organic materials include mulch, quarry products, turf, and potted plants.

If you deal with materials that may carry fire ants (fire ant carriers) and the material has been sourced from a suburb within the biosecurity zones, you must follow the compliance requirements. Use the Fire ant compliance advice tool for detailed instructions.

Fire ant carriers include:

  • soil (clean or contaminated)
  • animal manure
  • hay, straw, or sugarcane
  • potted plants
  • product and by-products of mining or quarrying or excavation activities, for example, chitters, coal fines, coal stone, decomposed granite, gravel, overburden
  • product and by-products of plants or processing of a plant, for example, mulch, sawdust, green waste, compost, turf.

Requirements for suppliers of organic materials to Council

Before delivery to any Council site can be made, Council requires organic material suppliers to provide confirmation they meet Biosecurity Queensland fire ant compliance. Suppliers will be required to complete a Fire ant zone supplier compliance verification form(PDF, 184KB) as part of Council's procurement process. 

If organic material has been stored in or comes from a declared fire ant zone, suppliers will need to provide Council with a copy of their fire ant management plan.