Further evidence of Yellow Crazy Ants

15 Jun 2018

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) staff are responding to community reports of Yellow Crazy Ant at two new sites, in the northern rivers area in NSW.

The reports of Yellow Crazy Ant at Terania Creek and Goonellabah were received by DPI after an infestation was recently confirmed in the Lismore CBD, sparking a full-scale treatment and surveillance operation in the area.

NSW DPI Manager Invasive Species Programs, Scott Charlton said the role of the community in efforts to eradicate the Yellow Crazy Ant, which is prohibited matter in NSW, could not be understated.

“The reports we have been receiving are vital to us understanding where the ant infestations are, so we can target treatment and eradication efforts.

“Unfortunately, we can confirm a Yellow Crazy Ant infestation at Terania Creek. We are working with local property owners to investigate where the ants came from while we take immediate steps to control them.

“We have also had a single ant found at Goonellabah and this is being treated as an infested area as no other ants have been found at the property.”

The Terania Creek site is a private property including approximately 100 square metres of rugged, steep bush to the north of Lismore, bordering Nightcap National Park.

Movement restrictions preventing the transmission of vegetative matter and soil within a five kilometre radius of the Lismore CBD remain in place. Modifications to the restrictions now allow people whose properties are not infested to move this material after completing an online risk assessment and submitting a movement notification.

“Those people within the five kilometre km area whose properties aren’t infested and that are not high risk businesses are now only required to complete an online risk assessment and submit a movement notification to move any materials,” Mr Charlton said.

“High risk businesses within the five kilometre area will still require a Biosecurity Permit, and we will be working with them to ensure minimal disruption.”

Mr Charlton said NSW DPI is still asking locals to be vigilant.

“We want people to join the hunt for the Yellow Crazy Ant and tell us what they find through our online reporting form,” he said.

“By understanding areas that are clear as well as those areas infected we can draw an accurate map to target our management effort.

“While the new finding at Terania Creek is a further challenge, it also is encouraging that the system is working.

“The community has been great in helping us identify infected areas to date, and we are keen to continue working with local residents to ensure this outbreak is contained.”

Residents are asked to complete a reporting form online or contact NSW DPI by calling the Biosecurity Hotline on 1800 680 244.

Yellow Crazy Ant information is available online.

Media contact: (02) 6391 3686