The city’s mowing contractors have been accused of inadvertently spreading fire ants.
But Logan City Council assures its mowing teams are taking all the necessary precautions.
Greenbank resident John Bennett said he was concerned about the number of fire ants on public land, which he believes are being spread by mowers.
On the nature strip outside his property, Mr Bennett counted 21 nests in the first 100m.
“They mow over one nest, break the nest up and all the ants get stuck up underneath the mower, and they are spread another 20 metres,” he said.
“It’s not [the contractors] fault, they’re just mowing.
“I speak to my neighbours and they say they have the same problems.”
A council spokesperson said the organisation was meeting its legislative obligations by treating ants across all council-owned land in Logan.
“This also includes cleaning of all equipment and machinery like slashers, excavators, wheelbarrows and other gear, ensuring it is free from soil and other materials that fire ants like to nest in,” the spokesperson said.
“All mowing contractors employed by Council are required to comply with legislative obligations (Biosecurity Act 2014, Biosecurity regulation 2016 and Plant Protection Act 1989)Â under their mowing contract.
“After mowing a site, operators inspect and ensure no soil or clippings remain on mowers and machinery before they are loaded on trucks and transported to the next work site.”
Council became responsible for treating fire ants on its own land, leased or managed, on 30 June 2024.
In its submission to a Senate Inquiry into Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) in January this year, council estimated surveillance and suppression would cost up to $1.7 million over a three-year period and millions more over a decade.
“… which could burden ratepayers without a collaborative cost-sharing approach,” the spokesperson said.
“Since the senate inquiry, no funding has been made available to local government for carrying out RIFA surveillance and suppression activities, despite the inquiry recommending an urgent review of funding be carried out.
“Council has since self-funded a new Red Imported Fire Ant business unit to carry out surveillance and suppression activities on Council land.”
