Over 300 fire ant nests threaten the safety of students and staff at the newly opened Yarrabilba State Secondary College, in Logan City because Biosecurity Queensland does not control the movement of fire ant carriers like soil and mulch.
In 2010, the Queensland government targeted Yarrabilba to become a city of 50,000 people. Massive development has taken place in the area and thousands of new residents have made it their home. The Yarrabilba State Secondary College opened in January this year with 263 grade seven and eight students. The College aims to foster a love of the outdoors and the natural environment in their students.
But massive development in south-east Queensland has brought massive infestations of fire ants into new housing estates in Logan, Ipswich and Gold Coast cities because Biosecurity Queensland does not control the movement of fire ants in truck-loads of fire ant carriers like soil, mulch and compost.
Over three hundred fire ant nests now infest the school’s oval and the surrounds of the school’s buildings, threatening the safety of the children and staff. Fire ants inflict multiple burnings stings on anything or anyone who accidentally stumbles over a nest. People allergic to their toxin can go into anaphylactic shock.
It is time for a Royal Commission to hold Biosecurity Queensland, the Fire Ant Program Steering Committee and Minister Mark Furner to account for wasting $500m of public money for fire ants being out of control in south-east Queensland.
16th March 2020