The Wet Tropics Management Authority’s Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication program is due to end late 2016—prior to the completion of the project in 2017.
Due to the uncertainty of future funding for the program, the authority has decided to cease any further residential baiting in Cairns during 2016.
Yellow crazy ant infestations in Edmonton and Bentley Park in Cairns and Russett Park in Kuranda have been baited for the past two years through the Australian Government funded program.
In this time, the treatments have significantly reduced numbers of the ants across a large area. Some areas are expected to be declared free of infestation this year.
Scott Buchanan, the Wet Tropics Management Authority executive director said remaining resources will be concentrated on treating the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and areas adjacent to creeks to focus efforts on the high threat areas.
“The creeks are major sources of spread and re-infestation, and it’s a priority to prevent any further spread of yellow crazy ants into the rugged terrain of the World Heritage Area,” Mr Buchanan said.
The Kuranda Community Taskforce, supported by Kuranda Envirocare, will continue treatment of residential areas of Russett Park.
“We would like to thank residents of Edmonton, Bentley Park and Russett Park for their support for the program over the past two years.
“Their cooperation and patience has enabled us to help prevent the worsening of the crazy ant crisis in our backyard.”
Aerial baiting to treat ant infestations in non-residential areas around Bentley Park, Mount Peter and Russett Park will be taking place during the week commencing Monday, April 11 (weather permitting).
A helicopter will be used to spread granules of ant bait over affected rural and peri-urban areas such as rainforests and cane farms in and around the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
“The Authority only has funding for yellow crazy ant treatment up to October 2016. However, we have requested further funding from both the Australian and Queensland governments to continue the eradication program and we are hoping for a positive response,” Mr Buchanan added.
If you need to remove high risk materials from your property please contact the Authority on 4241 0500 or Biosecurity Queensland on 132523 to arrange an inspection of materials.
Green waste does not need an inspection as long as it is taken as a covered load directly to council transfer stations at either Gordonvale or Portsmith where it will be treated by Biosecurity Queensland.
