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Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry has welcomed an announcement by NSW and Queensland authorities to increase biosecurity surveillance to prevent the spread of fire ants into NSW.
Cr Cherry joined NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty and NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Stephen Hegarty at Jack Evans Boat Harbour yesterday, where authorities pledged additional vigilance over fire ant surveillance.
The pledge was made as rising seasonal demand for livestock feed and landscaping supplies increase the risk of the invasive pest being inadvertently carried across the border.
“Increased surveillance of fire ants is critical here in the Tweed, where thousands of residents cross the border daily as part of our everyday life,” Cr Cherry said.
“We have a thriving farming community and a strong tourism industry and its imperative we all play our part to ensure we keep this invasive pest out of the region.
“While our staff at Council are doing everything we can to check for indicators of fire ant activity on roadsides, parks, sports fields and other Council facilities, it is the responsibility of all of us to remain vigilant. Councils and government authorities can’t do it alone without the help of the community.
“It is up to every one of us to know what fire ant nests look like and if they detect a suspect nest, contact authorities immediately.”
Last Friday, Tweed Shire Council joined neighbouring council members on the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation to call for additional funding from the Federal Government to fight this invasive pest.
Fire ants will also be discussed at today’s Council meeting, with a Notice of Motion on the issue included in the agenda.
Minister Moriarty was in the Tweed to discuss a cross-border taskforce with biosecurity experts from the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and NSW Police.
This follows the detection last month of red imported fire ants at Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast, just 5.5 km north of the NSW border. The detection triggered the NSW Biosecurity (Invasive Ant Carriers) Control Order 2023, which puts restrictions on the movement of materials that can bring the ant into NSW.
Under the Control Order, materials such as mulch, soil, hay, straw, sand, gravel, turf, potted plants and earthmoving and agricultural machinery cannot be moved from within a 5 km radius of the detection site without inspection and certification by Queensland authorities.
Breaches of the Control Order could lead to fines of up to $1.1 million, with penalties of up to $2.2 million for companies.
The enhanced taskforce would ensure a coordinated approach between both NSW and Queensland authorities. Site inspections will be conducted on both sides of the border, harnessing the capabilities of existing fixed camera systems normally used to conduct livestock movement surveillance at key road crossings between the two states.
Specially-trained sniffer detection dogs will also be used to respond to reports of suspected fire ant activity.
Residents are urged to visit the NSW Government website to check entry requirements for anyone moving such products into NSW from any fire ant biosecurity zone in Queensland.
A map showing all fire ant detection sites in Queensland over the past 12 months is published on the National Fire Ant Eradication Program website. The Queensland Government also has rules that apply to people and businesses moving materials that can carry fire ants.
Fire ants can look similar to other ants but their nests are distinctive with mounds of loose, crumbly or fluffy-looking soil with a honeycomb appearance, up to 40 cm high, with no obvious entrance holes.
Fire ants are dark reddish-brown with a darker black-brown abdomen and are from two to six millimetres long. They are very aggressive and will swarm out of the nest if gently poked with a stick. If people are stung, the multiple stings fire ants inflict form white pustules within 48 hours.
Look for them in sunny open areas, including lawns, parks, school grounds, sports fields, golf courses, gardens, foreshores, paddocks, disturbed soil and roadsides.
Anyone who suspects fire ants on their property is urged not to disturb the nest but to call the NSW DPI immediately on 1800 680 244 to report the incident.
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