Fire ants are not common in NSW, but there have been recent infestations in South Murwillumbah and Wardell, which are being treated with the goal of eradication1. A previous infestation at Port Botany was successfully eradicated1. Fire ants are currently infesting around 600,000 ha in South East Queensland and have been found close to the NSW border at Tallebudgera, Mermaid Waters, Carrara, Worongary, and Mudgeeraba2. The movement of fire ant carrier material from fire ant infested areas is prohibited unless certain conditions are met1. There have been reports of a new outbreak of fire ants in NSW, which is being investigated3.
NSW Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order (No 2) 2024
Restrictions apply on the movement of fire ant carrier material:
- into NSW from the fire ant infested area of Queensland
- from the Fire Ant Movement Control Area in South Murwillumbah and Wardell
- Changes to turf movement requirements
- Anyone bringing organic mulch, compost, growing media, manure, soil, hay, straw, chaff, silage, potted plants, turf, agricultural equipment, earth moving equipment, sand, gravel, chitters, coal fines, coal stone, overburden and decomposed granite into NSW from Queensland must comply with the current NSW Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order.
- The plain English guide to the current NSW DPI fire ant emergency order (PDF, 382.42 KB) is also available.
- A person in breach of an emergency order is guilty under the Biosecurity Act 2015 of a category 2 offence, for which the maximum penalties are:
- In the case of an individual $1,100,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of $137,500 for each day the offence continues.
- In the case of a corporation $2,200,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of $275,000 for each day the offence continues.
- For more information about red imported fire ants and the Emergency Order, visit the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website.