Menacing fire ants are high risk for most of city
A STATE Government map has listed the vast Ipswich suburbs at high risk from fire ants.
A new suburb-based system of identifying fire ants has labelled the bulk of Ipswich suburbs, from Tallegalla in the west to Camira and Springfield Lakes in the east at "high risk".
Only inner-Ipswich, including Brassall, North Ipswich and Booval, and rural areas including Grandchester and Marburg are "low risk suburbs."
State Minister for Agriculture John McVeigh said the changes were part of an attempt to cut red tape.
"This will make it much easier for residents and businesses to know if their suburb is in or out, and what restrictions apply," he said.
The Fire Ant Restricted Area aims to control the spread of fire ants through the movement of soil, mulch, hay and pot plants controls in two zones - a high risk area and a low risk area.
However, the map has ignored much of the Lockyer Valley where the most recent discovery of fire ant colonies has been.
The map lists Sommerholm as "high risk", however, doesn't classify suburbs further than Plainland or Laidley which it labels "low risk".
Click here for a PDF of the map or phone 13 25 23 to find out more.
