Fire ant nests found in NSW for first time sparking emergency response

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An emergency biosecurity order has been put in place in Northern NSW after three red fire ant nests were located in South Murwillumbah, 13 kilometres south of the Queensland border.

It’s the first time the venomous ants, which are believed to have spread from south-east Queensland, have been located in the state.

It’s the first time the invasive species have been detected in NSWCredit: iStock

Chemical baits were on Saturday placed across a 200-metre radius around the invasion site, while detection dogs searched for any other nests. Genetic testing of the ants was also underway.

The emergency order spans a five-kilometre radius from the nest site and restricts businesses and residents from moving materials that could potentially house fire ants, such as mulch, compost, hay and soil, without permission.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty warned residents to be vigilant.

“Red imported fire ants are a terrible invasive pest, which cause serious social, economic, and environmental harm,” she said.

“Our teams are focused on limiting further spread, and encouraging reporting and compliance through a targeted communications campaign.”

She encouraged residents to check their properties and be careful about what they transported across the border, especially during the Christmas season.

The ants can spread across vast areas quickly and have a potent venom that leaves a burning or itching sensation on the skin that can last up to an hour.

Their stings can be fatal to those who have severe allergic reactions, can kill pets and native wildlife, and have the potential to impact agriculture and native ecosystems.

The detection in NSW triggers the National Fire Ant Eradication Program response, which is part of the $600 million eradication plan.

The plan is funded by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments based on population.

But Invasive Species Council Advocacy Manager Jack Gough said the program faced a $140 million shortfall with some states, including Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria, yet to commit funding.

“We have very limited confidence that the amount of money put into the eradication program will be enough to achieve [its goals]. The scale of work has just increased because of the NSW outbreak, but also inflation has driven labour and material costs significantly, so it’s threatening the viability of the current program,” he said.

“This is very, very serious. Every time the program or funding is put off, the ants expand their range.”

The Minns government committed to its $95 million portion earlier this year, while Queensland has also announced $61 million for its share of funding.

Earlier this year a queen fire ant was detected in Victoria on a freight pallet from Queensland, while in June, community sports fields on the Gold Coast were forced to close due to the outbreak.

The eradication plan involves placing a 10-kilometre ring of chemical baits around the outbreak six times over two years.

“Governments need to be proactive and take this seriously because the cost of failure is so much higher than the cost of eradication,” Gough said.

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