Invasive fire ants continue march into inner-city park
Andrew Stafford |
The discovery of fire ants in inner Brisbane has raised concerns about ongoing efforts to eradicate the dangerous invasive species in the countdown to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Brisbane City Council has confirmed five fire ant nests were found in Musgrave Park in South Brisbane, the latest in a series of discoveries of the aggressive pest in the Olympic city’s inner ring.
Reece Pianta from the Invasive Species Council said the presence of fire ants in Musgrave Park followed recent discoveries in New Farm Park and Ann St near Brisbane’s CBD, and several local sporting fields.
Fire ant control measures have mostly been concentrated around Brisbane’s outer ring since the South American species was first detected in 2001, entering Australia via the Port of Brisbane.
They have since spread westwards as far as Oakey on the Darling Downs and south to the Tweed River, on the NSW border.
They are notorious for their extremely painful sting and pose a major threat to agriculture and native wildlife.
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program aims to eradicate the pest from Australia by 2032, the same year Brisbane hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
But Mr Pianta said the goal was in serious jeopardy and it could take a decade before the ants were eliminated.
“This is one of the world’s worst invasive species and it’s not going to go down quietly,” he told AAP.
“They have a strong survival instinct, they are well adapted to the Australian continent, so we’ve got to keep our foot on the gas.
“How is it going to look for our country if there’s a venue that’s closed down due to fire ants during the Olympics, or if an international athlete gets stung and is unable to compete?”
He urged the Queensland government to lock in continued funding for fire ant suppression in its upcoming budget.
In November 2025, southeast Queensland’s Council of Mayors, the state government and the Invasive Species Council called for additional federal funding to eradicate fire ants by 2032.
A Brisbane City Council spokesperson said the fire ants in Musgrave Park were destroyed on Wednesday and there was no ongoing impact to park users.
A Queensland Department of Primary Industries spokesperson said fire ant treatment was prioritised in areas of high public risk, including schools, childcare centres, parks and sporting facilities.
Management of publicly owned land such as Musgrave Park was the responsibility of council, supported by the state government’s Fire Ant Suppression Taskforce, the spokesperson said.
The department did not answer questions regarding ongoing state government funding or timelines for eradication.
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program could not be reached for comment.
AAP