March2014_NETWORK TOPIC
APOLOGY: Being a ‘townie’ and simply turning on a tap for endless water and seeing the lawn having to be mowed all too frequently, I was unaware that we were in the midst of a “green drought”. I hope that the recent rainfall has helped your situation somewhat, but I hear too that it was somewhat patchy..
FIREANTS – a distant memory? (Perhaps my ‘townie’ side again?) Not so for people and businesses south of Brisbane.
Keep this in mind when travelling into these areas, or purchasing from private contractors, as you don’t want to be the one to introduce fire ants to our area, with the resulting restrictions and impositions this would place on your neighbours – not forgetting the pain of discovery if you are the one bitten!
The introduction of these pests could be as innocent as purchasing an ’infested’ pot plant from a roadside or casual market stall in the restricted area – or someone giving you one as a gift! Also be aware of where you source your hay, if you are not buying it locally! (Also mulch, manure, turf . . . . see list below!)
Restricted items include soil (includes fill, clay, overburden, scrapings, topsoil, decomposed granite (deco), potting media and any other material from the ground); also mulch; manure; bark; hay; pot plants; potting media; turf; sleepers/logs; gravels; and poultry litter.
Be cautious regarding items originating from these areas:
Logan City Council; Ipswich City Council; Redland City Council; the fringes of Scenic Rim Regional Council (i.e. adjoining Ipswich); and a small area (N-E) of Lockyer Valley Regional Council (adjoining Ipswich)
The restricted area has been divided into two areas which have different levels of movement controls: See more information on www.daff.qld.gov.au/fireants – where you can also view a map showing the areas affected and what zone they fall under.
