Authorities are changing tack in their approach to fire ants as the super pest continues its spread.
A plan agreed to by agriculture ministers a fortnight ago includes tackling the pest using an outside-in approach where they've been detected in Queensland.
"It's a plan that will see a horseshoe configuration ... where they'll be suppressed and eradicated," Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said on Tuesday, adding that the previous strategy worked from west to east.
But while the Queensland government disclosed some details on Tuesday, the public won't see the plan until the ministerial meeting minutes are published.
The treatment program to prevent queens from reproducing will span from Moreton Bay in the north, west to the Lockyer Valley, east into the Gold Coast and south to the Tweed Shire.
A 2021 review of the eradication strategy released last month stressed the urgent need to increase funding and recommended a radical change in approach.
The review identified at least $3 billion was needed over the next five years to wipe out the pest.
By the end of the year more than $400 million will have been spent over the past six years fighting the super pest, but the states and Commonwealth are yet to confirm how much more they will spend.
While the new national response includes tackling fire ants from all directions, biosecurity zones in Queensland remain unchanged.
"Our program is however conducting an extensive review of the zones to ensure they align with the intent of the endorsed response plan," a spokesperson for the National Fire Ant Eradication Program said.
Mr Furner said there would be a crackdown on people doing the wrong thing with rule-breakers facing fines of half a million dollars.
He said a recent fire ant nest discovery at a pony club on the Gold Coast was linked to human movement.
"We will be coming down tough on compliance," the minister said.
The detection was just five kilometres from the border and prompted the NSW government to prohibit the movement of materials that could bring the ant into that state.
Mulch, soil, baled hay, turf and other high-risk material cannot be moved from within a 5km radius of the site without inspection and certification by Queensland authorities.
"It's important that people understand their obligations when they're moving materials around the area or outside of the area," Mr Furner said.
The highly destructive ant is native to South America, but has been in Australia since 2001 when they were found in Brisbane.
Several significant detections have been made in southeast Queensland since April as the invasive species continues its march south.
Ashley Bacon from the eradication program said treatments will be carried out three times a year over the next two years along the boundary of the "horseshoe" containment area.
"Until treatment takes place we are calling on ... governments and the community and industry to make every effort to treat fire ants and not spread them," Mr Bacon said.
Dogs will also be used to sniff out the ants.
