Murwillumbah Landscape Supplies hit hard after devastating fire ant infestation detected in Tweed Shire, northern NSW

A businessman says his company could haemorrhage up to $20,000 per day amid a devastating fire ant infestation in northern NSW. He worries he’ll have to “shut up shop for good”.

A Tweed Shire business owner says his company could haemorrhage up to $20,000 per day amid a red fire ant infestation in northern NSW – the first on record.

Murwillumbah Landscape Supplies owner AJ Love worries he will be forced to “shut up shop for good” after the ant’s incursion into northern NSW.

Murwillumbah Landscape Supplies owner A.J Love. Picture: Sam Stolz

On Friday, imported red fire ants thought to have come from Queensland into NSW were found at a Tweed Shire Council industrial estate site in South Murwillumbah.

The grim find of the invasive pest has sparked concern among farmers and business owners.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) worked quickly to eradicate five nests located on the Quarry Rd site at the weekend.

A five kilometre exclusion zone has been set up around the site, with businesses and residents restricted in how they can move potential fire ant carrier materials without permission.

On Tuesday, the DPI visited businesses with sniffer dogs to inspect restricted products.

Restricted products include mulch, woodchips, compost, sand, gravel, soil, hay, baled products and agricultural machinery.

Mr Love said the infestation has brought his business to “a complete standstill” and he expected further “dire” financial consequences.

“We make on average around $400,000 over a 20-day trading period. There’s potential we could lose up to $20,000 per day while our business is restricted,” he said.

“I’ve got 12 permanent staff members who are here today and don’t know what to do. There’s only so many times you can wash a truck.

“It’s a logistical nightmare.”

Mr Love told the Tweed Daily News several orders had to be cancelled Monday and some customers were hurling “abuse”.

He said he found out about the outbreak on social media on Saturday, and that he and other staff members felt “completely left in the dark” in the wake of the discovery.

“We haven’t had one person from the DPI (Department of Primary Industries) come out and explain to us what’s going on,” he said.

The Quarry Rd industrial estate site in South Murwillumbah was closed after the fire ants were found. Picture: Sam Stolz

“And what’s pissed me off is we had to initiate a meeting to find out more information.

“The site is 1km up the road, so you’d think the DPI would have been here at 6.30am this morning with sniffer dogs to speak to us and to inspect our product.

“It’s frustrating because all of our product, including soil, has already been certified. Now we have to get it recertified before we can operate again.”

Mr Love said he expected the DPI would inspect the premises and product within 48 hours.

“All we want to do is get back to business. It’s not just hurting us, but hurting the whole town,” he said.

Mr Love said the business could “shut up shop for good” if worse comes to worse.

“If this goes on, we will lose a lot of money and every hour we aren’t doing business we still have staff to pay,” he said.

Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry said the situation would be “resolved as quickly as possible”.

Tweed Shire Council Mayor Chris Cherry with DPI worker Brook Hooson and Wendy Gibney outside the Tweed Shire Council chambers in Murwillumbah. Picture: Sam Stolz

“Obviously this is a really big thing for our local businesses. However, the response has been immediate with NSW and QLD DPI, and The National Fire Ant Eradication Program have had 25 staff straight away on the site,” she said.

She said the DPI had parked an information bus outside the council chambers in Murwillumbah and a hotline was taking calls.

“I think we will be able to control this within the Tweed Shire,” she said.

“I’m confident that every measure was taken.

“I think it’s unfortunate that this has happened but we need to deal with what’s ahead of us.” Ms Cherry said.

Nationals Leader and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud says the ants could “hit the Murray Darling”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Asked whether the horse had bolted in relation to containing the ants, Nationals Leader and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said: “I think we’re five minutes to midnight”.

He said it would be a “disaster for not just QLD and NSW, but potentially everyone else across the country”.

Mr Littleproud said the ants have been “reported just about the Great Dividing Range, which means it can hit the Murray-Darling and spread up and down the country”.

“If we don’t (eradicate) it’s not just agriculture that will be impacted by this, it’s everyone’s daily life,” he said.

“People’s lives will be restricted unless we make it a solid commitment to act fast.”

As well as impacting agriculture, the stinging ants can result in the closure of public areas.