Aussies urged to stay vigilant as 'super' biosecurity threat spotted spreading over border
An immature fire ant nest, found on a property in Tweed Heads, was reported by a member of the public late on Wednesday. The discovery prompted an emergency operation to control the spread of the invasive "super pest".
Renowned for their painful stings, fire ants can attack people, pets and livestock. It's projected they could slash agricultural output in Australia by 40 per cent if left unchecked.
Invasive Species Council's Reece Pianta told Yahoo News they could also create a "huge strain" on our health system, causing up to 650,000 additional hospital appointments.
Authorities are now conducting genetic analysis of the fire ants to determine the exact source, but Pianta suspects that the ants made their way into New South Wales by being "moved in something like turf, hay or mulch".
"They can get into those materials" and be inadvertently transported over the border, he explained.
Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said NSW biosecurity officials have already treated the nest and will be on the ground over the coming days, with the immediate area being surveyed for signs of further spread.
'This detection highlights that our government's preparation and education within the Northern Rivers community on preventing and detecting fire ants has fostered a vigilant local community and business people," Moriarty said.
"This is yet another reminder that vigilance, awareness and early detection are critical to keep these things out of NSW," NSW Chief Invasive Species Officer Scott Charlton added.
Despite the concerning discovery, Pianta believes there are a number of "silver linings".
"It was a community member who reported it," Pianta told Yahoo. He believes that means "people are paying attention" to the threat posed by fire ants. He added that it was also found "really early" which means that it likely hasn't spread to other locations or split into other colonies.
"That is a hopeful sign," he said.
Additionally, the property is "fairly close" to the biosecurity zone, which means that the ants, who can build 'rafts' to protect their queen in wet weather, haven't travelled "too far" into NSW.
Pianta has encouraged the community to continue reporting suspected fire ant nests, but to also send a strong message to governments.
"We need to report them if we see them," he said. "Fire ant teams are doing this work and we need to keep supporting them with long-term funding and backing the work they're doing. It isn't going to be a short-term fix, or a couple of budget cycles."
Earlier this year, Yahoo spoke to Queensland mum Ebony, from Greenbank in Logan, who said her teenage son Kaleb suffered a life-threatening allergic reaction after being stung twice in late 2023.
The first time, he was stung just once on the foot but went into full anaphylaxis within five minutes — despite having no prior allergies. She called for urgent government intervention and greater awareness of the dangers of fire ants.
It's feared that if fire ants become established across the country, it would mean an extra 150,000 medical emergencies and 650,000 hospital appointments.
"That's the human impact," explained Pianta, adding that animals have similar reactions, which could cause "some of our most iconic species to be decimated".
"Fire ants continue to sting until they die," he explained, adding, "I can pick fire ants off me but koalas don't have thumbs."
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Authorities say a new Biosecurity Emergency Control order will be issued, which will establish a 5km zone to restrict the movement of high-risk materials like turf.
Previously, two Queensland turf businesses were fined $60,000 for carrying supplies from fire-ant-infested areas. CCTV, police, sniffer dogs, and border checks are all being used to catch truckies illegally hauling material that could be contaminated with the ants.
The NSW Government said it is taking "strong steps" to attack the fire ant threat, including increasing funding from $15 million to $95 million.
'Biosecurity is a shared responsibility, and we need everyone working together to manage the threat of fire ants," Moriarty said in a press release.
Tweed residents should call the helpline on 1800 680 244 or submit an online form to report any suspected fire ants.
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