Fire ants have been discovered at several mine sites in Central Queensland, after first being detected in Moranbah.
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program’s odour detection dogs found the ants at mine sites in Central Highlands and Isaac Council regions last week.
These new detections are a direct result of the program’s successful investigation and tracing activities following last month’s detection in Moranbah, which linked pallets of bricks stored on soil and moved from the fire ant biosecurity zones.
At BHP Mitsubishi Alliance Broadmeadow Mine, the dogs found foraging fire ants, whilst conducting surveillance activities on the same site that the pest was detected in July 2025.
According to the Invasive Species Council, it is not uncommon to find foraging ants in areas receiving eradication treatment.
The nests were destroyed using direct nest injection, and broadscale treatment was applied to the surrounding area.
The Broadmeadow Mine has now been added to the fire ant biosecurity zones to help reduce the risk of human assisted spread.
Compliance tracing will now be undertaken to determine whether equipment or materials that can carry fire ants have moved from the affected mines, potentially spreading the invasive species further.
The program urges anyone who spots fire ants or nests to report them online or by calling 132 ANT (13 22 68).
Teams will continue to work across Central Queensland.
National Fire Ant Eradication Program Director of Specialist Operations Tom Roberts says eradicating fire ants is a shared community responsibility.
“The cooperation with the affected mining sites demonstrates how industry partners contribute to this critical national biosecurity effort,” he says.
“I encourage everyone sourcing equipment or materials that can carry fire ants from within fire ant biosecurity zones to ensure their suppliers follow fire ant safe-practices. This is the best way to stop fire ants from spreading.”
