GROUP PERMIT FOR HAY SUSPENDED:
In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the NSW Government has taken immediate action to ensure flood fodder is fire ant free, suspending the permit for hay moving from infested areas of Southeast Queensland into NSW.
The Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit, which allows movements of hay from specified lower risk areas in the fire ant biosecurity zone of Southeast Queensland under certain conditions, is suspended for one month, effective at 12.30 pm today (13th March 2025). This suspension allows the Department to further assess the distribution of fire ants following the flooding events and determine the current biosecurity risk.
The swift response follows the discovery of multiple fire ant colonies rafting in flood waters in Queensland, within the Logan River catchment. While the catchment flows to the northeast and into Moreton Bay, the risk of mobile fire ant colonies being transported into NSW in known carrier materials may have increased.
If you are moving regulated fire ant carriers from the parts of QLD and NSW shown in red, orange or yellow on this map, you must comply with the current Emergency Order. View the new order and Plain English Guide.
Fire ants infest around 830,000 ha in Southeast Queensland, close to the NSW border which poses an ongoing risk of new infestations in NSW. Most of NSW has been free of fire ants. Nests found in South Murwillumbah (November 2023) and Wardell (January 2024) were destroyed and surveillance and treatment are ongoing, in partnership with the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program.
The movement of fire ant carrier material from fire ant infested areas is prohibited unless certain conditions are met. Conditions are detailed in the Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency order.
The Department has a NSW Fire Ant Strategic Plan 2024-2025 (PDF, 184.47 KB) that sets out key actions to prevent fire ants from establishing in NSW.
Fire ants in NSW
South Murwillumbah
Fire ants were detected at South Murwillumbah on 24 November 2023.
Wardell
Fire ants were detected at Wardell on 19 January 2024.
