Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order 2025

View the current Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order and Plain English Guide. If you are moving the defined 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.

GROUP PERMIT FOR HAY SUSPENDED:

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 on13^th 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.

About Wardell

On 19 January 2024 fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) were found at Wardell in north-eastern NSW, approximately 80 kilometres south of the Queensland border.

National Fire Ant Eradication Plan (NFAEP) teams, NSW DPIRD and Ballina Shire Council are working together to eradicate the infestation.

The NFAEP has completed the first of several broadscale treatments in the 2 km area around the nests.

The locations at highest risk of fire ant infestation have been checked, but it’s important for everyone to keep checking for fire ant nests.

UPDATE: 11 July 2024, fire ants were detected by NFAEP detection dogs during routine surveillance at Wardell. The nest was assessed as low-risk, and swiftly destroyed by the NFAEP.

Communities in the border regions of Northern NSW should be on the lookout for fire ants and their nests and contact NSW DPIRD or call 1800 680 244 if suspected fire ants are found.

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Map of the fire ant infested areas in QLD and NSW

Check your yard for fire ants

Next steps of the response

The National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) will be conducting further surveillance and treatment in the 2km radius around the infestation for up to two years, to ensure there are no more fire ants present.

It is vital that fire 100% of properties in the target area are checked and treated, whether fire ants are visible or not, to protect residents and businesses in the local community from the harmful impacts of this invasive pest.

Wardell residents are being urged to play an active role in protecting their community against fire ants, by providing consent to allow surveillance and treatment on their properties.

When fire ant teams seek access to your property, let them in to keep fire ants out. Authorise fire ant teams to enter the outdoor areas of your property to undertake surveillance and treatment by signing the Property Information Form.

Treatment is safe for people and animals.

What can you do?

Check your property for fire ant nests and call us if you find any suspicious ants or nests
Only move products that are regulated as fire ant carriers if allowed by the Emergency Order and the Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit

You're allowed to move fire ant carriers into and within the 5km fire ant movement control area without restrictions.

If you are moving fire ant carriers out of the fire ant movement control area in Wardell (see Part 2 of the Emergency Order and the Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit):

Check the definition of your carrier material (Part 1, Clause 9 of the Order)
Check whether the material has always been kept in preventative conditions (Part 1 Clause 10 for the meaning of preventative conditions, Part 2 of the Order and the Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit for carrier specific requirements)
If it hasn’t been kept in preventative conditions, ensure that it meets treatment or cleaning requirements (Clauses 16-33)
Complete a Record of Movement declaration if you are moving fire ant carriers on behalf of a business, organisation or council (Part 2, Clause 12).

Treating or cleaning requirements

Follow the treatment and/or cleaning requirements specified for your carrier in Part 2 of the Emergency Order and the Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit.

Complete the record of movement declaration form

You must make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration if you are acting on behalf of a business, organisation or council, and retain these records for 4 years.
Record of movement (RoM) declarations are not required for agricultural and horticultural equipment, heavy vehicles, pallets, packaging, containers and coverings, green waste, building waste, soil samples, rocks and stones over 20 mm in diameter, recycled concrete aggregate over 20 mm in diameter, and indoor potted plants.

Green bin/organic waste collection by council

No action is required for grass, vegetation and clippings which are collected by council as part of the council’s waste management services.

Call the Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244 if you need more information.

Seen them? Contact us

Use the online form for any suspicious sightings or call 1800 680 244.

Watch the Wardell Community Briefing held on Wednesday 24 January below: