There were information sessions this morning for local businesses and industry members impacted by the detection of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) at South Murwillumbah, with the opportunity to find out more information about the strategy that the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are using to contain and eradicate the fire ants.
The invasive pest was positively identified at a vacant sub-division site at Quarry Road in the new industrial estate at South Murwillumbah last Friday (24 December). Since then, the fire ant nests have been treated, and the surrounding land on the subdivision baited to help prevent any further outbreak.
A Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order was issued on Sunday (and updated on Monday night), which puts a Fire Ant Movement Control Area in place within a 5km radius of the infested site.
The second order combined an existing order already in place to limit the transport of goods from affected fire ant zones in south-east Queensland.
At this morning’s sessions, Scott Charlton, NSW DPI Director Invasive Species Biosecurity, said that they had now completed checks in relation to businesses located in the 500m area around the original identification site and will continue to search the area over the next 14 days with people and specially trained dogs.
‘If we find something in that 500m we will have to expand the area but at the moment it is looking good,’ he said.
Next stages
Following initial checks, the treatment in the 5km radius area will begin, using a mix of hand placing of baits as well as by helicopter and drone.
‘There will be six baiting rounds over the next 15 to 24 months,’ said Mr Charlton. ‘If there are flights and nests they are difficult to find in the 5km radius, so we take a systematic and thorough approach to the baiting system.’
While there have been recordings of queens moving up to 30km on high winds, Graeme Dudgeon, National Fire Ant Eradication Program Head of Operations said that 99.9 per cent of queens don’t get past the 2km mark, with some making it 5km, hence the radius.
‘It is not just about how far they can get,’ Mr Dudgeon explained. ‘If they have survived a flight that far they are unlikely to have the energy to set up a colony.’
Be vigilant
Speaking to The Echo, Meredith Dennis, Deputy Tweed Shire Mayor said, ‘It is really important that people are vigilant.
‘The fire ants are a serious risk to animals and wildlife. We all have to pay attention and if you see something then you must report it.’
Rob Hawker, Chair of the Tweed Cane Growers Association, highlighted the importance of public awareness, telling The Echo that, ‘There needs to be more of a public awareness campaign. We’ve issued a notice to cane growers to scrutinise their properties. They need to look in open and sunny areas where fire ants will make their nests, like drain banks and canal banks.
‘The potential impact of fire ants on native wildlife is really scary.’
Border checks
Currently the assumption is that RIFA were brought in on contaminated material from Queensland. This will be confirmed by genetic testing.
‘This really demonstrates how porous the NSW Queensland border is,’ said Craig Hough, local chair of NSW Farmers.
‘In the two day blitz they did, they inspected 90 vehicles and turned six around. So do the maths on how many vehicles are coming through that are a potential risk,’ he told The Echo.
‘We’ve suggested that they use the Chinderah site to check vehicles but were told that it was an RTA site not an agricultural site,’ said Mr Hough. ‘Even if they just did a random one day a week check of vehicles it would send a clear message to people about how serious this is.’
Frustrated businesses
For businesses outside the 500m radius of ground zero, many are still waiting for checks so that they can reopen for trade. This is proving frustrating for local businesses who are waiting to be cleared to trade, particularly local nurseries.
As one of the peak trade times, losing three to five days’ trade in the lead up to Christmas is a significant blow to a local businesses income.
Information Hub
‘The DPI have put on effective sessions and I was really pleased that people felt that they left these sessions with the information that they needed,’ said Chris Cherry, Mayor of Tweed Shire Council.
There is also a Fire Ants Information Hub located at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre Auditorium, 10–14 Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah, which is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. They have already seen over 200 people who have come for information on the RIFA situation.
For more information about red imported fire ants, visit the NSW DPI website.
Anyone who suspects fire ants on their property is urged not to disturb the nest but to report the activity to the NSW DPI by calling 1800 680 244.
More detail on the National Fire Ant Eradication Program can be found online at www.fireants.org.au.
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