Fire ants discovered in Tweed Heads

FARMERS are calling for a government crackdown to stamp out fire ants in NSW after the pests were discovered in Tweed Heads last week.

Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are prohibited under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and high-risk materials are restricted from infested areas of south-east Queensland.

On Wednesday the NSW Government confirmed an immature Red Imported Fire Ant nest was detected on a property on NSW’s far north coast, where it was later destroyed by authorities.

“An investigation was immediately commenced following the report of suspected fire ants and the discovery of an immature nest led to its destruction,” Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said.

A genetic analysis has commenced of the specimen fire ants to determine the likely source.

NSW Chief Invasive Species Officer Scott Charlton said, “Investigations and surveillance are underway following this detection; however, the fact that the nest was immature, or non-productive, is reassuring.

“A vigilant pest control contractor at the site quickly identified suspected fire ants.”

NSW Farmers Biosecurity Committee Chair Tony Hegarty said the repeated detections of fire ants in NSW were a clear sign of a “colossal failure” of current biosecurity measures.

“The danger that Red Imported Fire Ants present to people, animals and the environment could not be more extreme,” Mr Hegarty said.

“We’re rapidly losing the battle from one pest to another here in NSW, and the way we’re going, fire ants could well be the next threat our government fails to control.”

Mr Hegarty called on the state government to ensure every resource was available to eradicate the ants as soon as possible.

“Current biosecurity measures clearly aren’t doing the job, and while we’ve got $100 million in new biosecurity funding, this one pest alone could cost us $60 billion over the next 30 years,” Mr Hegarty said.

“The NSW Government needs to get real on border biosecurity and properly vet high-risk materials coming into our borders, or else these ants are only going to keep marching on in until it’s all too late.”