A new electric ant infestation has been discovered at Sorrento Crescent in Port Douglas and a restricted zone has been declared to reduce the risk of spreading this invasive pest ant.
A map showing all current electric ant restricted zones across the FNQ region, including those in the Douglas Shire area, is available here. You can use the address finder or zoom to an area.
Douglas Shire Council is working with Biosecurity Queensland to conduct eradication activities such as treatment and surveillance.
Movement restrictions are in place, including:
Residents, or contractors working in the zone, must not move live electric ants, or move electric ant carriers from a property within a restricted zone to another property within or outside of the restricted zone unless certain conditions have been met.
These conditions are:
- The carrier is moved to a waste facility that accepts electric ant carriers. A list of all current waste facilities that accept electric ant carriers is provided below, however from time to time this list is amended. Always refer to the electric ant webpage qld.gov.au/anthunt for an up-to-date list of approved waste facilities, OR:
- A biosecurity instrument permit is obtained prior to the movement of an electric ant carrier occurring. A permit can be obtained by calling 13 25 23 or requesting one on the electric ant webpage.
Under Schedule 11 of the Biosecurity Regulation 2016, an electric ant carrier is defined as:
- potted plants
- cuttings or fruit from plants growing on your property
- a thing that has come into contact with the ground, for example bee hives, and garden furniture
- soil, or a thing that has soil or an organic soil substitute attached to it, for example turf
- mulch and composted materials
- sawdust
- baled hay or straw
- animal manures or animal by-product
- a product or by-product of mining or quarrying.
It is essential to ensure that all machinery used in these areas are washed down and free of electric ant carriers prior to movement off site.
Electric ants have the potential to seriously damage our unique environment, the outdoor lifestyle we enjoy in Queensland, and our valuable farming and horticultural enterprises, which is why the Commonwealth, Queensland and other state and territory governments have been targeting this invasive pest species.
Your assistance is appreciated and is an important contribution towards eradicating this serious pest from Queensland.
If you require any further information regarding the electric ant biosecurity zone or any information contained in this email, please read the attached factsheets, contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or visit daf.qld.gov.au/anthunt.
