Heavy rain and flooding have returned to northern Queensland this week, causing chaos across the region and leaving residents grappling with not just waterlogged homes but also an alarming resurgence of fire ants. As torrential rains impacted the east coast, forecasts indicated that these conditions may lead to the development of a tropical low or cyclone off the northwest coast by the end of the weekend. Northern Territory and northern Western Australia are also at risk of significant rainfall, with warnings in place for the southeast as moist air meets low pressure systems moving south.
While the flooding is severe, it’s particularly distressing for those living in the fire ant suppression zone. Residents are pleading for assistance as the numbers of nests and bites have exploded since Cyclone Alfred swamped the state’s southeast. The adverse weather pushed these invasive pests above ground, allowing them to raft on floodwaters and spread to new areas.
According to the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, there have been 60 reports of severe reactions to bites that required medical attention since March 1, 2025, with 23 individuals hospitalized. One resident, Scott Rider from Cedar Grove, expressed his frustration, stating, "They’re just everywhere, they’re crawling over patios… watching them raft in that floodwater from the cyclone was amazing. I’ve never seen so many in my life." His words reflect the dire reality for many in the community, with fire ants infiltrating homes and posing serious health risks.
The Queensland government previously transitioned to a self-treatment model for pest control in the inner suppression zone, leaving landholders responsible for managing infestations. This decision has come under scrutiny as residents like Kirsty McKenna report a dramatic increase in fire ant activity—finding only two nests before the cyclone, but discovering over 110 since then.
"The only assistance that residents in the suppression zone are getting is bait being sent out if they report fire ants. There is no team assistance and no support," said McKenna, illustrating a plea for government action. Working hard on her Scenic Rim property, she spends hours monitoring and treating these fierce pests, yet still faces losses as her horses have developed abscesses from encounters with fire ant nests.
As this crisis unfolds, the Fire Ant Suppression Taskforce noted that around 650,000 hectares (approximately 600,000 Suncorp stadiums) of the biosecurity zone is classified as the inner suppression zone. Director Mick Jeffery explained that eradication teams were previously available to treat infestations but were reassigned to focus on outer eradication efforts, leaving local landowners to grapple with the issue largely alone.
This lack of support has left advocacy groups and residents alike concerned about the long-term implications of unmanaged fire ant populations. Reece Pianta, advocacy manager at the Invasive Species Council, warned, "What we’ve been warning about for a while is… we don’t think that there’s enough support or funding in that suppression zone to keep fire ant numbers low, and that’s a problem for the whole country." Pianta urged that insufficient intervention could allow these invasive ants to spread outside the designated areas, further complicating the biosecurity efforts.
To combat the situation, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has temporarily banned movements of hay and turf from fire-ant-infested areas since Cyclone Alfred hit. This decision comes after turf restrictions were previously imposed last year, highlighting the significant toll of fire ants on the local agriculture industry. Turf Queensland president Hugo Struss lamented, "I think that everybody needs to experience [being bitten] to realize how serious this problem is going to be if it starts to get into childcare centers and sports fields…"
The community has been vocal about their needs, with individuals like Carolyn Davidson from Towri Sheep Cheeses expressing frustration at the response from Biosecurity Queensland. She reported twice about her concerns since the flooding but received no assistance, stating, "I think it’s an absolute disaster waiting to happen.” Davidson’s sentiments are echoed by many in the region, illustrating the overwhelming sense of urgency for governmental intervention.
As heavy rain continues to fall across northern Queensland, the plight faced by residents in the fire ant suppression zone demands attention. The combination of adverse weather patterns and increased fire ant activity presents a complex challenge that community members cannot tackle alone. Authorities must respond decisively and provide the necessary resources to manage and contain the fire ant populations effectively, safeguarding both people and livestock in affected areas.
