Operation Five Valleys launched in Kyogle region, northern NSW, with a focus on this potential fire ant hot spot

NSW Dept. of Primary Industry, media release, 28 November 2024:

NSW Government’s fire ant protection activities ramp-up for busy QLD border-crossing period

Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW - Media Release

28 Nov 2024

The Minns Labor Government is ramping up its red imported fire ants program’s surveillance and response efforts to combat the potential spread of fire ants during the summer when cross border traffic increases.

The Government’s red fire ant program’s goal is to prevent red fire ants from entering New South Wales, and in the event they do, the program identifies infestations early and eradicates them swiftly.

Biosecurity detection dog ‘Candy’ seeks out fire ant nests during the NSW Governments recent early detection surveillance on the Tweed, under the watchful eye of Biosecurity detection dog trainer/handler, Ryan Tate from TATE Animals.

Operation Five Valleys in the Kyogle region was launched this week to focus on this potential hot spot and is spearheaded by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Last week another wave of Operation Victa, involving NSW Police and Transport for NSW, stopped 68 large vehicles at the NSW/Qld border to inspect compliance and turned around one vehicle from entering NSW under a direction from the officers.

This compliance activity follows the recent interception and eradication of fire ants found in a turf delivery from Queensland, which led to a swift response by the NSW Government suspending the importing of turf from southeast Queensland until that region’s landscape sector demonstrates better safeguarding behaviours.

These actions are part of the NSW Government’s ongoing detection and surveillance program across northern New South Wales.

Operation Five Valleys is undertaking the following:

• The Government’s specially trained detection dogs and human surveillance teams will be monitoring high-risk sites in Kyogle to detect fire ants.

• High-risk locations are identified with fire ant carrier materials, such as turf, soil, landscaping materials, plus areas highlighted by habitat suitability modelling.

• Areas near Cougal, Findon Creek, Lindesay Creek, Dairy Flat and Sawpit Creek have been identified as early detection areas to guard against the natural and human-assisted spread into NSW from QLD.

• A Check Your Yard campaign is being launched to encourage all residents to check their properties. Selected Landholders can also elect to have their properties checked at no cost.

• Plus, selected Landholders can have their properties checked at no cost.

To further support these efforts, the NSW Government has introduced updates to the Biosecurity Emergency Order, providing clear guidance and improved safeguards for stakeholders involved in the movement of fire ant carrier materials.

The Order now includes clearer fire ant carrier definitions, premises checking and treatment, plus clarified requirements, making it easier for stakeholders to fulfil their duties. For more information, Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244 or www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty:

"The Minns Labor Government’s early detection surveillance program is part of our ongoing commitment to keep this highly invasive pest out of New South Wales.

“By focusing on high-risk areas and employing advanced tracking and modeling techniques, we’re taking strong preventative measures to stop fire ants from establishing here."

“We’ve proven that when fire ants are detected in NSW, we will respond quickly to control the situation and stamp them out.

“We will also take measures to address weak-link behaviours, such as banning QLD turf entering NSW after repeated problems.

“Fire ants won’t march or float into NSW they will either be carried with materials such as soil, mulch, hay and turf, or fly in by natural spread from QLD. Which is why we’re ramping up surveillance in these high-risk areas.

 

Australia's fire ant invasion problem has moved from concerns about chronic eradication program underfunding to non-compliance of property owners fuelled by Facebook discussion

 

For the last forty-three years that invasive species, the Fire Ant, has been increasing in number and territory until now it infests around 830,000 ha in South East Queensland, close to the Qld-NSW border, and in recent years has been found as far south in New South Wales as Murwillumbah in November 2023 and Wardell, near Ballina, in January 2024.

The Fire Ant infestation program began to move beyond a target of total eradication to one of suppression and containment after the Queensland Newman Coalition Government in 2012 cut 45 jobs from its fire ant eradication program and reduced state funding by 50 per cent to about $1.1 million for the next year.

In an August 2023 media release the Invasive Species Council revealed the existence of government documents that detailed at least a $49 million shortfall in fire ant funding for 2023/24, risking the spread of the super pest across Australia.

"The explosive documents reveal that, due to insufficient funding, eradication and surveillance on the ground in Queensland this year has been cut in half from what is needed.

They also reveal that there will be no systematic action to stop the westward or northern spread of fire ants, with action confined to stopping the spread into NSW."

Mainstream and social media are now reporting espisodes involving non-compliant property owners and "government eradicators".

Non-compliance increases the risk infestations will spread even further across Queenland and deeper into New South Wales.

Quotes from Facebook account "Stop the toxic fire ant poisoning":

• "Pseudoscience, false and misleading information, and complete lies and gaslighting are used to justify their dangerous approach to eradicate fire ants, which many experts publicly state is now impossible."

• "The toxic fire ant eradication program by the Australian Government is killing dogs, cats, cows, horses, bees, birds and many other animals and insects.
  This is how to stop them entering your property..."

It is noted that the two insecticides currently listed as used in the Qld fire ant eradication program are hydramethylnon & pyriproxyfen.  Both products approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and commonly found in cockroach baits or flea collars. While in NSW APVMA-approved pyriproxyfen, s-methoprene and fipronil are used, with the latter approved only for direct injection into fire ant nests.

The Daily Telegraph, "Bombshell report reveals fire ants could kill six people a year, cost homes $110m+", 13 October 2024, excerpts:

A notorious pest could cause up to six deaths, lead to 116,000 medical visits and cost households $118m a year if allowed to spread uncontrolled across one Aussie state, a bombshell report has found.

The chilling warning comes as biosecurity authorities scramble to contain the spread of the red imported fire ant, which has rapidly spread across Queensland and even extended down into NSW.

But recent eradication attempts in Queensland are facing a difficult step as landholders – concerned about the ant bait being “toxic” and fearing its impacts on the ecosystem and their livestock – face off with government eradicators.

Some are now refusing entry to treatment officers attempting to spread the bait, which is also found in fly sprays and pet flea tablets.

The ongoing tension has led to police stepping in amid mounting stand-offs with the mandatory treatment program...

Police called in to assist with landowner stand-offs

Treating officers working under the NFAEP are allowed under law to enter Queensland properties for eradication without the consent of owners.

The program still maintains preference to work with landowners to undertake eradication at a time that suits their convenience – informing owners of the planned eradication through letterbox drops, emails, phone calls and texts.

But stand-offs have emerged between some owners and eradication officers who are refused entry.

One Facebook group calling on people to stop the “toxic” program urges landowners to refuse entry, erect signs warning of trespassing and provide a “reasonable excuse” under the Biosecurity Act 2014 to stop entry.

In some posts, landowners are seen confronting eradication staff.

People face hefty fines for obstructing designated officers under Queensland law.

In a statement, Queensland Police confirmed it had been requested to assist some NFAEP staff by “facilitating access to properties where occupants are not compliant with the treatment process”.

“Special duties officers will be allocated to this task, ensuring no impact on the delivery of frontline services,” a police spokeswoman said.

“This collaboration aims to support biosecurity efforts while maintaining essential policing operations.”

FIRE ANTS: dangerous invasive pest found almost 99kms south of the NSW-Qld border on Friday 19 January 2024

 

Wardell NSW
Population 803 people (2021)
IMAGE: Google Earth

Echo, 22 January 2023:

Fire ants found in Wardell on Friday were destroyed on Saturday and are no longer a risk to the community living in the immediate area, according to the NSW Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty.

The fire ants in Wardell were originally reported in by a member of the community to the NSW Biosecurity Hotline on Friday and confirmed as fire ants later that day.

The Ballina finding also comes just days after fire ants were spotted floating in floodwaters around the Gold Coast and warnings that fire ants could spread further south after being detected in Murwillumbah.

National Fire Ant Eradication Program

The NSW Department of Primary Industries team moved in with colleagues from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and Ballina Shire Council to destroy the fire ants, control the site, start tracing the source and survey the surrounding area.

Moriarty said to manage the risks of spread, a biosecurity control order has been put in place with immediate effect, restricting movement within the surrounding 5km area of the site in Wardell.

Department of Primary Industry teams will support the local businesses and community who will need to lock down movement of landscaping, gardening, and building materials plus machinery until inspected and checked.

Chemically eradicated the infestation

Experienced teams were on site on Saturday and chemically eradicated the infestation and treated a radius of 500 metres from the site.

Following detection of the fire ants the NSW Government instigated its action plan covering – eradication, control, tracing, and engagement of local businesses and community.

Moriarty said the teams were prepared for this discovery of fire ants and immediately implemented a response plan and destroyed the fire ant site.

‘Biosecurity is a shared responsibility and I encourage everyone to continue to check their properties for these pests. With the summer cross-border travel in peak times I ask everyone to be careful of what they’re moving and where.’.....

Community kept informed

Tara Moriarty said the community will be kept informed of progress.

The team will continue activities with sniffer dogs and boots on the ground to determine the extent of any infestation, undertake genetic testing of the fire ants, as well as engaging and supporting the impacted local community and businesses.