Fire Ant Management in Queensland - Free Fact Sheet
Fire ants are one of the most significant biosecurity threats facing Queensland’s development and construction industry. If your project involves moving soil, turf, mulch, or other carrier materials in South East Queensland, you need to understand your obligations - and have a plan in place before work begins.
Queensland Ecologists has prepared a Fire Ant Management Fact Sheet to help developers, contractors, and project managers understand their general biosecurity obligation under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
Download: Fire Ant Management Fact Sheet
Key information on fire ant biosecurity obligations for development, civil works, and earthworks projects in SEQ.
Why Fire Ant Management Matters
Since January 2026, Queensland’s fire ant biosecurity zones have shifted to a rolling 5km radius model around known detections, updated monthly. In February 2026, fire ants were detected on the Sunshine Coast for the first time - expanding the biosecurity footprint beyond the existing SEQ infestation area.
If your project involves moving or storing soil, turf, mulch, hay, manure, potted plants, quarry materials, or other fire-ant carriers from a fire ant biosecurity zone, you need documented procedures to show how your general biosecurity obligation will be met. For many development, civil, landscaping, and earthworks projects, a project-specific Fire Ant Management Plan is the most practical way to demonstrate compliance.
What’s in the Fact Sheet?
A practical overview of how to meet your general biosecurity obligation on site.
| Topic | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Site assessment & zone check | Confirming whether your site falls within a current biosecurity zone |
| Visual inspection | What to look for before, during, and after earthworks |
| Material movement controls | Receiving, stockpiling, and transporting fire-ant carrier materials |
| Treatment & storage | Chemical and non-chemical options for contaminated or suspect materials |
| Record-keeping | Movement records, inspection logs, and treatment documentation |
| Incident response | What to do if fire ants are detected on your site |
| Worker induction | Training and awareness requirements for site personnel |
Who Should Read This?
Key Things to Know
- Biosecurity zones are updated monthly - check the current fire ant biosecurity zone map before each project
- The general biosecurity obligation applies to everyone, not just those in declared zones - if you know or ought to know about a biosecurity risk, you must take reasonable steps
- Non-compliance may result in enforcement action, project delays, movement restrictions, or directions, depending on the circumstances
- A Biosecurity Instrument Permit may be required if you cannot comply with standard movement controls
Need a Site-Specific Plan?
The fact sheet provides a useful overview, but every project is different. Queensland Ecologists can prepare a site-specific Fire Ant Management Plan tailored to your project location, materials, and approval conditions.
We also prepare Biosecurity Risk Assessments, Environmental Management Plans, and Fire Ant Management Plans for development approvals across South East Queensland.
Need help with fire ant compliance for your project? Request a quote or call (07) 3018 7538.