Parents seek answers over fire ant treatment at North Arm school

Parents at North Arm State School are seeking assurances about the safety of a planned fire ant treatment at the school this Saturday (August 8).

Parent Jess Daniels said families had been notified of the treatment and attended an information meeting, but remained concerned about possible exposure of children and pregnant women.

“We were told to wait for an information meeting, which we did, but that did not inspire much confidence,” she said.

Ms Daniels said parents had been told no fire ant nests had been detected within the school grounds and wanted to understand why preventative treatment was considered necessary.

She said young children fell over, played and lay on the ground, and ate lunch in areas proposed for treatment.

“What are the long-term health impacts on our children?” she asked.

Parents are seeking details of the product’s active ingredients, application rate, how long it remains in the environment and any risks from contact with treated grass, soil or play areas.

They also want details of regulatory approvals, precautions for children and pregnant women, and how suspected adverse reactions would be monitored.

Ms Daniels questioned why treatment could not occur during the Christmas holidays, when children would be away from the grounds, and whether closer surveillance could be used instead of preventative treatment where no nest had been found.

She also asked why workers applying the treatment wore protective equipment and what precautions would be required before students returned.

The parents are seeking clarification about exclusion periods, notification procedures and whether untreated buffers can be provided around playgrounds, eating areas and sandpits.

A petition attracted 185 physical signatures within 24 hours from parents and friends in the local community.

The Gazette asked the authority responsible for the fire ant eradication program to confirm whether no nests have been detected at the school, explain why the treatment was scheduled and identify the product and method to be used.

It has also been asked to provide its assessment of short and long-term health risks and explain what safeguards will protect students, staff and visitors before, during and after treatment.  A spokesperson from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program provided the following response... 

National Fire Ant Eradication Program responds

Fire ants have been detected in North Arm and surrounding areas. Under the Fire ant response plan 2023-27, the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (our program) will treat all properties, including schools, within a 5 km radius of known fire ant detections to eliminate colonies that may be present but not yet detectable. North Arm State School is within our eradication treatment area. 

Fire ant nests can remain undetected for several months after an infestation occurs. By the time a nest becomes visible, it may already have produced new colonies. While there are no known fire ants at the school, our field teams must conduct multiple eradication treatment rounds. This approach supports successful eradication as surveillance alone cannot detect every fire ant colony.  

Fire ants pose a serious threat to humans, the environment, the economy, and our way of life. They also pose particular risk in places where children learn and play, as their aggressive stings can cause painful injuries and, in some cases, serious allergic reactions. 

Fire ant eradication treatment is safe for humans, animals and the environment, including children and pregnant women. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has rigorously assessed, registered, and approved the treatments we use for over 20 years, and independent research (see attached) has found the active ingredients in fire ant treatment to be safe when used as directed.  

The active ingredient makes up 0.5% of the product (5 g per kg). For a 500 m² block, 100 g of product is applied, containing just 0.5 g of active ingredient. These active ingredients are commonly used in household and agricultural pest control products but at much lower concentrations in fire ant treatments. 

Our field teams will apply a granular treatment product containing corn grit, soybean oil and a small concentration of the insect growth regulators, either pyriproxyfen or S-methoprene. 

Insect growth regulators break down quickly and do not persist in the environment long-term when used as directed, becoming undetectable within days. No exclusion period is required following treatment.  

We have successfully treated many schools, kindergartens and other educational facilities across the Sunshine Coast. We work closely with property owners and tenants to create safe and effective treatment plans and minimise disruption. 

We will treat North Arm State School outside school hours. To maximise eradication success, we must deliver treatment within a set timeframe and complete all treatment rounds across the eradication treatment area. 

Our field officers apply the treatment in accordance with strict safety and operational requirements. Staff wear personal protective equipment as a standard workplace safety requirement when handling approved treatment products. 

Visit fireants.org.au or call 132 ANT (13 22 68) for more information.