A new Biosecurity Emergency Order is in effect for part of the Tweed Shire after the discovery of red imported fire ants near the Queensland border last week.
The invasive species was reported at Queensland’s Currumbin Waters, around 1.2km from the NSW/QLD border, on Friday.
A team from the National Fire Ant Eradication Plan soon destroyed the nest, advice from the NSW government read.
Third biosecurity zone in six months
The new Biosecurity Emergency Order is the third for the Northern Rivers in the past six months after fire ants were first reported in the Tweed Shire late last year before being found in Wardell further south in the Ballina Shire.
Last week’s order pertains to a 5 km radius of the fire ant nest site most recently found, including areas in NSW and QLD, with businesses and residents in Piggabeen and Cobaki to the northeast of the Tweed Shire directly impacted.
As with previous orders, movement of fire ant carrier materials including soil, mulch, turf and hay out of the biosecurity zone is to be regulated under the Emergency Order.
Anyone wanting to move nominated materials will need a Record of Movement Declaration and a Plant Health Certificate.
572 ‘suspicious ant’ reports lodged
The NSW Government says it’s allocated around $600 million to the fight against fire ants, including an extra $95 million in 2023.
A government hotline, meanwhile, has received 572 reports of ‘suspicious ants’, with authorities in last week’ having confirmed two as being fire ant incidents leading to emergency orders on the Northern Rivers.
Extensive ongoing surveillance has so far failed to reveal any more fire ants.
More information about red imported fire ants is available via the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website or by calling 1800 680 244.
NB This article’s headline has been corrected shortly after first publish to say the ants were found in Currumbin, not in the Tweed Shire.
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