Invasive fire ants have spread to five additional mine sites in Central Queensland, after the pest was first detected at a BHP coal mine last month.

The invasive species was located by odour detecting dogs at several mines in the Central Highlands and Isaac Council regions just six weeks after being reported at BHP’s Broadmeadow site.

The National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) linked the outbreak to a pallet of bricks which had been stored on soil and transported more than 800km from a fire ant biosecurity zone.

While the NFAEP has declined to reveal the names of the affected mines, the Invasive Species Council has called on the companies responsible to “pay to have their mess cleaned up”.

The Council’s advocacy manager Reece Pianta, said this was a “catastrophic breach”, and th

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