Tweed Shire gearing up to combat spread of invasive fire ants after detection at Tallebudgera
Authorities on both sides of the border have geared up to wage war on aggressive fire ants steadily marching south across the Gold Coast toward northern NSW.
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Authorities are scrambling to combat the spread of invasive fire ants from southeast Queensland into northern NSW, with the aggressive insect inching closer by the day.
A NSW Biosecurity control order is in place to help halt the ants – which have a severe sting – after a nest was discovered at a Tallebudgera Valley pony club about 5.5km north of the Queensland-NSW border. It has since been destroyed.
Concerns have been raised the ants could potentially infest beaches and other public spaces, leading to closures.
The ants were reported to be an estimated 11km from the border about a month ago.
The control order restricts movement of materials that can harbour the ants and help them spread.
Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry said the ants have not been reported in the Tweed yet.
She said the council has been working with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) on new measures including:
– Training to help staff identify the ants.
– Amending procurement procedures to prevent the spread of the insect.
– Amending development application procedures to make developers aware of new control orders.
– Supporting the DPI with local knowledge and contacts.
Materials such as mulch, soil, hay, straw, sand, gravel, turf, potted plants and earthmoving and agricultural machinery cannot be moved from a 5km radius of the detection site without inspection and certification by Queensland authorities.
To drive back the South American pest a new fire ant response plan 2023–27 will focus on scaling up containment and compliance and intensifying treatment.
The new containment area will form a horseshoe around the infestation, spanning from Moreton Bay in the north, west to the Lockyer Valley, east into the Gold Coast and south to the Tweed Shire.
On Monday, Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said: “This new focus on compliance shows that the National Fire Ant Eradication Program is serious about enforcing the rules that prevent fire ants from spreading.”
Offences under the Biosecurity Act can result in $470,000 in fines or three years imprisonment.
“The National Program cannot eradicate fire ants alone,” Mr Furner said.
“We need the community, industry and all levels of government to play an active role in managing fire ants on property they own or manage.”
Fire ants have been found at various locations across the Gold Coast.
An awareness campaign including digital noticeboards is ongoing on major Tweed arterial roads to alert motorists.
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