With the help of fire ant odour detection dogs Calla and Cannon, the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program launched its 10-year eradication plan on the Speaker’s Green at Parliament House on Wednesday 6 September 2017.

The $411.1 million program, endorsed by the Agricultural Minister’s Forum in July 2017, will reduce the size of the infestation in a staged, rolling planned treatment program starting from the west and progressively moving to the east.

The additional funding will not only increase the program’s treatment and surveillance capacity, it will allow for more advanced, innovative techniques and tools to achieve greater efficiency in eradication efforts.

Furthermore, the funding will also result in increased scientific analysis of eradication processes and tools, odour detection dogs, community engagement, remote sensing surveillance research and development, and improved IT systems.

The treatment season started in October and is expected to treat more than 250,000 ha, compared to almost 100,000 ha completed last year.

During the 2017-2018 treatment season, suburbs in the western outer infestation areas of the Lockyer Valley, Ipswich and Scenic Rim will receive three rounds of bait treatment between October and June. Read more about treatment season.

While the program has expanded the treatment plan, it will also supress infestation in other areas, such as the northern Gold Coast, before eradication treatment is later done in these areas. We will continue to respond to public reports and destroy fire ant infestations.

For more information on fire ants or to report suspect fire ants visit www.daf.qld.gov.au/fireants or call 13 25 23.