"The Paniyiri Greek Festival, scheduled for May 23-24, is expected to draw about 50,000 attendees."
Discovery
On May 4, a resident discovered fire ant nests in Musgrave Park, South Brisbane. About five nests were found near the corner closest to Musgrave Pool and Edmondstone Street, near a large green shed. Brisbane City Council confirmed the nests and said steps had been taken to treat the ants.
Impact
Organizers of the Paniyiri Greek Festival, scheduled for May 23-24, stated they are monitoring the situation and will follow directions from authorities. Paul King, West End Community Association secretary, expressed concern about the eradication timeline and potential health risks.
Response
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program was contacted but did not immediately respond. Council has treated the nests, but no signage or barriers were present on the park site as of Friday. Residents reported that hormones were used on the nests to reduce colony reproduction over time.