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General Questions

I might have found some fire ants on my property, what do I do?

  1. Take photos or video of the suspected ants as closely as you can without disturbing them or the nest. Be aware that fire ants will attack and sting is disturbed.
  2. Make a report by using the online form; or Call 1800 680 244.

What happens if fire ants are found on my land?

NSW DPI will work with the National Fire Ants Eradication Program to search the surrounding areas, treat the ants and stop their spread, at no cost to the owners or occupiers.

A temporary requirement to only move certain materials and items off the property under permitted conditions could be put in place while the ants are controlled. The ants would be treated and monitored until it was clear they had been eradicated.

Does the fire ant emergency order affect me?

Everyone in NSW is affected by the Emergency Order and it is everyone's responsibility to keep on the lookout for fire ants.

Anyone who moves equipment or goods which could carry fire ants, including hay, turf, organic mulch, soil, potted plants, sand, gravel and agricultural and earthmoving equipment, from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas into NSW needs a Queensland Government plant health certificate before moving the items.

Businesses and people who are moving fire ant carrier material from a QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas must obtain a plant health certificate before they enter NSW.

Anyone who has recently purchased organic material listed below must ensure that they are free from fire ants:

  • Potted plants
  • Compost
  • Mulch
  • Decomposed Granite
  • Soil
  • Turf
  • Manure

Where can I get more information?

Visit the NSW DPI website at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants. The Emergency Order, along with a plain English version, can be found online.

Current Fire Ant Detections in NSW

South Murwillumbah

Confirmed: 25 November 2023

Fire ants have been detected in South Murwillumbah in north-eastern NSW, 13 kilometres south of the Queensland border. NSW DPI, the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and Tweed Shire Council are working together in response to a detection of fire ants in Murwillumbah. MORE INFO

Wardell

Confirmed: 19 January 2024

Fire ants have been detected in the community of Wardell, just south of Ballina. NSW DPI, the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and Ballina Shire Council are working together in response to the detection. MORE INFO

First Aid for Fire Ant Stings

If a person has been stung

If breathing is normal and sting victim doesn’t have a history of insect allergies:

  • Apply a cold compress to relieve pain
  • Gently wash affected area with soap and water
  • Take an antihistamine to manage minor, localised reactions and itching

For severe reactions seek urgent medical advice

If a pet or animal has been stung

If your pet has been stung, it’s important to:

  • Quickly remove them from the ants or nest
  • Remove any fire ants from their skin or fur
  • Give your pet a cool bath if stung to provide some relief
  • Contact your vet clinic for further medical advice

New Turf Treatment Requirements

What are the new requirements for turf suppliers and installers?

On February 14, 2024, the Biosecurity Emergency Order was amended to strengthen treatment requirements for turf suppliers and installers:

  • Turf sourced from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas must now be treated at the point of lay in NSW, or store in preventative conditions until installation. The treatment must be approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and used as per the label.
  • Anyone initiating the movement of turf from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas must complete a Record of Movement Declaration and have a Plant Health Certificate. Treatment must remain effective until the turf arrives in NSW.
  • If moving and installing carrier materials, it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the requirements of the Emergency Order.
  • Businesses ‘onselling’ turf products must ensure that treatment requirements and necessary documentation are passed onto consumers.

Do I need to complete a Record of Movement declaration?

Yes. A Record of Movement Declaration must be completed by the party who initiates the movement of turf from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas.

Turf sourced from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas must also have Plant Health Certificate uploaded with the Record of Movement. This certificate is obtained by the supplier, ensuring that all treatment, harvest and transport requirements in the order are complete. Treatment must remain effective until the turf arrives in NSW.

If moving and installing carrier materials, it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the requirements of the Emergency Order.

More on rules for moving products here. Check the map to see where movement restrictions apply here.

I’m laying turf I ordered from SE QLD. What do I do?

If your turf is from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas and your supplier has not done so, you must complete a Record of Movement Declaration before it is transported into NSW. If your turf does not have a Plant Health Certificate, contact your supplier.

On installation, you must treat your turf immediately with an APVMA approved chemical fire ant treatment. These are readily available from retailers.

What treatments can I use for turf?

A range of chemical treatments are approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority APVMA for treating fire ants in turf in areas such as lawns, parks, and sports grounds and these are readily available for use in NSW. MORE INFO

My turf was already treated before leaving QLD. Do I need to treat it again in NSW?

Yes. All turf sourced from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas must be treated immediately after being installed in NSW. This measure gives NSW an extra layer of protection to reduce the risk. Turf is an ideal and therefore high-risk medium for fire ant transmission.


Fire Ants: Behaviour, Identification and Nests

Are fire ants dangerous?

Yes. Fire ants can sting people causing allergic reactions, sting pets, kill native plants and animals, destroy farm machinery and equipment, and also damage ecosystems beyond repair.  When a nest is disturbed tens to hundreds of fire ants will swarm within a few seconds and sting simultaneously.

How do I identify fire ants?

Ants are:

  • Aggressive
  • Will swarm when disturbed
  • Dark red-brown in colour
  • Brown-black abdomen
  • 2-6mm in size

Their nests are:

  • Made of crumbly soil
  • Have no entry points
  • Often in open, sunny areas but sometimes found in logs or along pavers.

How big are fire ants compared to bull ants?

Fire ants are much smaller than bull ants, measuring around 2-6mm. Bull ants, on the other hand, measure up to 4cm.

Rules, Restrictions & Emergency Orders

What restrictions are put in place if fire ants are found?

As a general rule, the following will occur:

  • A 5km radius is placed around the location of the fire ants.
  • This 5km radius is called a fire ant movement control area.
  • Included in the emergency order is a movement restriction of fire ant carrier material out of that movement control area. In other words, anyone wishing to move fire ant carrier material (turf, mulch, soil etc) out of this 5km zone will have specific restrictions.

What does an Emergency Order involve?

The Emergency Order means fire ant carrier material is restricted from being moved out of the 5km movement control area. These include: mulch, soil, compost, manure, growing media, hay, chaff, silage, potted plants, turf, agricultural and earth moving equipment, grass/vegetation or clippings.

Click to view the current Emergency Order

What are fire ant carrier materials?

Fire ant carrier materials include:

  • organic mulch
  • soil
  • grass clippings
  • compost and/or manure
  • potted plants
  • turf
  • agricultural and earth moving equipment

Who is responsible when transporting materials from QLD to NSW?

The Emergency Order applies to everyone involved:

  • The QLD-based supplier is responsible for ensuring the material is compliant with the conditions of the Emergency Order and filling in a record of movement.
  • The transport driver is responsible for making sure the relevant certification accompanies the material in transit and a record of movement has been completed.
  • The NSW-based recipient is responsible for ensuring the material is not accepted unless it arrives with the relevant certification and keeping those certificates on record.

Are border crossings between QLD and NSW still being managed?

Yes. In the past six months there have been three roadside compliance operations with more to occur in future. Interestingly, these rules for moving fire ant carrier material over the border have been in place for several years following the initial fire ant detection in QLD.

Treatment and Eradication

Can I treat fire ants myself?

No. Eradicating them yourself using over-the-counter products is usually not effective and often leads to fire ants spreading further. Fire ants are a complex invasive species which require specially trained staff to effectively treat them. Without this expertise, you risk not killing the queen and missing other hidden nests nearby.

How is an infested area initially treated?

After the identified nest is destroyed, NSW DPI and the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) will search surrounding areas for any further fire ant sites.

The National Program staff, including a sniffer dog team, will then commence intensive surveillance and treatment out to 500m of the fire ant nest as part of a systematic eradication process.

Are chemicals used in the eradication process?

The treatment used to destroy the fire ants is tried, tested and approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and is safe for humans, animals and the environment. It contains the same active ingredient found in household flea and mosquito control products but at a much lower concentration.

After the initial nest is destroyed, is the long term treatment of fire ants safe?

Fire ant treatment is not a poison. It is tried, tested and approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and is safe for humans, animals and the environment. The treatment is made up of small pieces of corn grit soaked in soybean oil and low concentration of insect growth regulator.
The granules are collected by foraging fire ants. The treatment prevents the queen from reproducing workers—if the queen cannot reproduce workers, the colony will starve and naturally die out.

Businesses and Transporters

Can I get my business checked for fire ants?

Yes. If you are a business, especially in or near a 5km movement control area, that would like their premises checked for fire ants, please call the Biosecurity Hotline on 1800 680 244.

Can I move machinery such as agricultural or earthmoving equipment from one location to another?

Yes, you can move machinery within the 5km zone.  If you need to move machinery outside of the 5km zone or from QLD to NSW, it must be:

  • Cleaned so that it’s free from soil and any other fire ant carrier material
  • Checked visually and found to be free from fire ants
  • Complete a Fire Ant Carriers - Record of Movement Declaration. If coming from QLD, you also need to upload a biosecurity certificate

Please note: If a portion of your property is within the 5km movement control zone and the remaining is outside the 5km movement control zone, the entire property is considered to be within the 5km movement control zone.

Who is responsible when transporting materials from QLD to NSW?

The Emergency Order applies to everyone involved:

  • The QLD-based supplier is responsible for ensuring the material is compliant with the conditions of the Emergency Order and filling in a record of movement.
  • The transport driver is responsible for making sure the relevant certification accompanies the material in transit and a record of movement has been completed.
  • The NSW-based recipient is responsible for ensuring the material is not accepted unless it arrives with the relevant certification and keeping those certificates on record.

Where do I get a Plant Health Certificate?

Plant Health Certificates are issued by inspectors from the Queensland Government to applicants wanting to move fire ant materials into NSW from Queensland. A Plant Health Certificate will only be issued if the relevant material meets the NSW entry requirements above and must accompany the material in transit.

Farmers, Growers and Primary Producers

Can I move agricultural machinery or earthmoving equipment from one location to another?

Yes, you can move machinery within the 5km fire ant movement control area.  If you need to move machinery outside of the 5km zone or from QLD to NSW, it must be:

Please note: If a portion of your property is within the 5km movement control zone and the remaining is outside the 5km movement control zone, the entire property is considered to be within the 5km movement control zone.

Where do I get a Plant Health Certificate?

Plant Health Certificates are issued by inspectors from the Queensland Government to applicants wanting to move fire ant materials into NSW from Queensland. A Plant Health Certificate will only be issued if the hay meets the NSW entry requirements above and must accompany the hay in transit.

Where can I get a vendor declaration and who fills it in?

The Australian Livestock Fodder Association provides a vendor declaration template that can be used for hay. While it is not a legal requirement to use one, it is good practice and provides evidence of the property address where the hay has come from in Queensland. You can download the template and have the hay supplier fill it in before you move or accept delivery of the hay in NSW. If you suspect a vendor declaration is false or misleading regarding the place of origin of the hay, call the NSW Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244.

What types of agricultural equipment need a certificate under the order?

High risk equipment includes agricultural machinery used for production, cultivation, harvesting or processing, which has been in contact with fire ant carrier material, such as soil and hay. Machinery, including tractors, harvesters and fronts, planters, bins, and balers will need a certificate. The rules don’t apply to new or unused machinery.

What types of earth moving equipment need a certificate under the order?

High risk equipment includes earth moving machinery used for scraping, digging, levelling, or carrying earth materials such as soil, sand or gravel, which are fire ant carrier materials. Equipment which needs a certificate includes dozers, graders, excavators, dump trucks, loaders, trenchers, compactors, scrapers, and backhoes, need a certificate. The rules don’t apply to new or unused machinery.

Gardening and Landscaping

Can I still buy potted plants?

Yes, you can, however if the potted plants have been present in a QLD or NSW fire ant infested area, they must not be moved unless the following has been met:

  • The potting media that is part of the potted plant was treated with an APVMA approved chemical for the control of fire ants in accordance with all label directions and permit conditions;
  • The treatment of the potting media of the potted plant remains effective until the potted plant arrives in NSW; and
  • The plant is accompanied by an approved biosecurity certificate certifying that the measures above have been met.

Can I still buy indoor potted plants?

Yes, however indoor potted plants that have been present in the QLD or NSW fire ant infested area must not be moved unless the indoor potted plant has met the conditions below:

  • Moved directly from indoors, where it has been held for the previous 3 months, to the vehicle in which it will be moved without being placed on the ground, or the indoor potted plant is uprooted prior to movement so that no soil, or other fire ant carriers are present;
  • Checked visually and found to be free of fire ants; and
  • The indoor potted plant is placed in preventative conditions before being moved and remains in preventative conditions until it is moved out of fire ant infested area.


After the indoor potted plant has been moved into NSW it is required to be kept indoors continuously for a period of 3 months after arrival into NSW.

Do I need a certificate to bring a plant from a QLD nursery into NSW?

If the nursery is in a QLD or NSW fire ant infested area, you will need a certificate stating the plant has been treated as required under the Emergency Order.

Can I bring uprooted plants, washed and bare-rooted bulbs from QLD into NSW?

The Emergency Order does not apply to plants and bulbs which are free from soil. You can bring them into NSW from Queensland without a certificate.

Is chicken manure organic mulch? What do I need to do to bring organic mulch into NSW?

Yes, chicken manure is considered organic mulch under the Emergency Order. Organic mulch includes manure, bark, wood chips, hay, straw, sileage and sugarcane bagasse which must be treated and certified as directed in Section 10 of the order and outlined in the plain English guide.

Which quarrying and mining materials are regulated under the emergency order?

The order applies to quarrying and mining material, including sand, gravel, chitters, decomposed granite, coal fines, coal stone and overburden.

Can I move agricultural machinery or earthmoving equipment from one location to another?

Yes, you can move machinery within the 5km zone.  If you need to move machinery outside of the 5km zone or from QLD to NSW, it must be:

Please note: If a portion of your property is within the 5km movement control zone and the remaining is outside the 5km movement control zone, the entire property is considered to be within the 5km movement control zone.

Hay, Chaff and other Fodder

What is the problem with hay from QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas?

Cut, raked, and baled hay is a highly attractive material for new fire ant queens to land on or crawl into to start a nest, as it provides a food source and preferred nesting structure. Hay that is cut, raked, baled, and stored in the known infested area has a high risk of carrying fire ant queens and nests. Fire ants have been introduced to properties in hay from the known infested area.

Why does hay need to be fumigated to enter NSW?

Unfortunately, fumigation using methyl bromide is the only chemical treatment that can be used on hay intended for livestock feed that will kill any fire ant queens nesting inside the bales. South Australia and Victoria also require baled hay from the known infested area to be fumigated.   Queensland laws allow hay to move out of the known infested area into the rest of Queensland if it has been rapidly processed (received its final two rakings within 24 hours of each other and has then been baled within 24 hours of the last raking). However, rapid processing is not acceptable under the NSW entry requirements as it does not mitigate the risk of contamination with fire ant queens from high density infestations and can result in live worker ants remaining inside bales. Movement of worker ants, dead or alive, into NSW constitutes a further offence under the prohibited matter provisions in the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015, with severe penalties.

How do I know the shop/seller I buy my hay from will not have fire ants?

Always get a vendor declaration from the supplier if you are buying hay from outside the known infested area in Queensland, to prove its point of origin (where it was grown and baled). This is not a legal requirement. It is good practice.

Do not buy hay from the known infested area if it does not meet the NSW entry requirements. This is an offence and carries severe penalties.

Can hay from outside the known infested area be transported through the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas?

Yes, but only if it is in the known infested area for less than 12 hours, the vehicle has not stopped except for fuel, rest, meals, or emergencies, and it remains under cover and off the ground.

Does silage require treatment and certification?

Baled silage is listed under the Emergency Order as requiring the same fumigation treatment and certification as baled hay. However, fumigation is not practicable given baled silage needs to undergo anaerobic fermentation inside its wrapping. The fermentation process is likely to kill any ants inside the wrapped bales, but there is a risk that if the wrapping is punctured, ripped, or split, fire ants could re-infest the bales. Applications to bring wrapped, baled, fully fermented silage into NSW under an Individual Biosecurity Permit will be considered under strict conditions (such as minimum and maximum times since baling and the integrity of each bale’s wrapping inspected at loading) along with certification. Other conditions may also apply. Applications can be made by emailing invasive.species@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Loose, unbaled silage is listed under the Emergency Order as organic mulch requiring different treatment to baled hay. To bring loose, unbaled silage into NSW from the known infested area:

  • it must be heat treated to a minimum temperature of 65.5 degrees Celsius
  • immediately following treatment, it must be handled and stored off the ground and undercover until it arrives in NSW
  • it must be accompanied by a Plant Health Certificate.

Does chaff require treatment and certification?

Bagged hammer-milled chaff can be moved from the known infested area into NSW without treatment or certification, because the hammer-milling will effectively destroy live ants, aided by the bagging process. However, if a bag is not well sealed or un-bagged chaff remains uncovered or in contact with the ground, it could become contaminated with fire ants. It is recommended that chaff is sealed in stout plastic bags immediately after hammer-milling and until it enters NSW, to ensure it does not carry fire ants into the state.

Current Fire Ant Zones Explained

What is a fire ant infested area?

The new Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order (No 3) 2024 has revised the zones. The Order:

  • defines the NSW Protection Zone, which is the whole of NSW excluding fire ant infested areas or movement control areas.
  • defines the QLD fire ant infested area, which includes 5 km around all detections in QLD.
  • defines the NSW fire ant infested area, which includes areas of NSW within 5 km of all detections in QLD.
  • defines the fire ant movement control areas in South Murwillumbah and Wardell, which includes 5 km around all detections
  • requires any person initiating movement of a fire ant carrier into the NSW Protection Zone from the fire ant infested areas of NSW & QLD to declare a Record of Movement and upload the required biosecurity certificate here . A PHC can be obtained via DPI through Plant Health Certificate (PHC) (nsw.gov.au)

Note: The fire ant infested area is based on the Fire Ant Biosecurity Zone map published by the Queensland Government but modified for the purposes of the order. This map is shown for information purposes only.

What is a fire ant movement control area?

Fire ant movement control areas refers to the areas shown on this map in red, within a 5-kilometre radius of the nests located in NSW.  Currently there are two fire ant movement control areas in NSW, at South Murwillumbah and Wardell. Note: Requirements may differ between the fire ant movement control areas and NSW fire ant infested areas. Check the order for more.

I live within 5km of the QLD detections in Currumbin Waters and Currumbin Valley. What do I do?

NSW Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order (No 3) 2024 was enacted on 7 March, 2024. The new Order redefines the fire ant zones following a new detection in Currumbin Waters, QLD on 6 March 2024. The nest was large, reproductive and deemed high-risk. Due to the high-risk, the area of northern NSW that lies within the 5km zone around the Currumbin Waters detection is now classified as NSW fire ant infested area.

Check the map here to ensure your property is within the NSW fire infested area. If it is, you have obligations under the Emergency Order when moving fire ant carrier materials. If you move any of these materials out of the NSW fire ant infested area, you are required to complete a Record of Movement Declaration and obtain a Plant Health Certificate.

The Program has assessed the Currumbin Valley infestation as having a low risk that it has spread based on a technical assessment of the nest and known probably source of human introduction to the site. Based on this information the National Program and NSW DPI have not applied movement restrictions to the area. On detection the nests were treated by the Program and the 500m areas was cleared of any other fire ant nests.

The area is captured in the IPQ map because of business rules apply automatically to all fire ant incursions.

Selling or supplying fire ant carrier material to other states or territories?

Are you selling or supplying fire ant carrier material from the NSW fire ant movement control areas to Victoria or to other states or territories?

Other states and territories have entry requirements that you need to be aware of if you’re supplying fire ant carrier material from within 5 kms of a place where fire ants have been found. We can help you understand these requirements and how to comply with them, such as how to obtain a plant health certificate from NSW DPI.

Find the entry requirements for each state or territory below:

Fire ant carrier material includes mulch, compost, growing media, soil, hay, chaff, silage, potted plants, turf, agricultural and earth moving equipment, sand, gravel, decomposed granite, chitters/coal stone and fines/overburden, and grass/vegetation/clippings, however you should check the definitions in each state’s requirements as they may be different.


Seen them? Contact us.

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