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Specialists leading the response to the detection of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) at South Murwillumbah will host a community information session in Murwillumbah tomorrow morning.
Leaders from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the National Fire Ant Eradication Program will be on hand to provide an update to members of the business and farming communities as well as local residents, on the response to date.
Learn about the recent detection at South Murwillumbah, the actions taken since detection, next steps and what you can do to help prevent the spread of fire ants.
Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry will provide an update on Council’s response. Council is doing everything possible to support the lead agencies.
Register to attend the event by clicking here.
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. 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 5 km 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.
Signs have been erected at key entry and exit points around Murwillumbah alerting people to this 5 km zone.
Community meeting details
What
Community information session on detection of fire ants at South Murwillumbah.
When
Friday 1 December, 8.30 – 9.30 am
Where
Murwillumbah Civic Centre Auditorium, 10 – 14 Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah
Who
Scott Charlton, NSW DPI Director Invasive Species Biosecurity
Graeme Dudgeon, National Fire Ant Eradication Program Head of Operations
Chris Cherry, Mayor of Tweed Shire
RSVP: To register for the briefing, click here.
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 fireants.org.au.
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