NSW Government responds to Red Imported Fire Ants in northern NSW

Thursday 14 December 2023

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have confirmed the detection of three red imported fire ant nests with surveillance ongoing  in South Murwillumbah in north-eastern NSW, 13 kilometres south of the Queensland border.

This is the first fire ant detection in Northern NSW and presumed to be the most southern report of fire ants from the Queensland infestation.

The detection in NSW triggers the National Fire Ant Eradication Program response which is part of the $600 million eradication plan developed by the Australian governments.

The NSW Government is working closely with the Commonwealth and the Queensland Governments, plus Tweed Shire Council. Experienced teams are on site chemically eradicating the infestation across a radius of 200 metres from the found sites.

Following detection of the fire ants the National Plan releases four subsequent actions - eradication, control, tracing and communications.

NSW DPI are leading the control, tracing, and communications by implementing an emergency biosecurity order across a radius of five kilometres from the site in South Murwillumbah.

More information is available on the NSW DPI website –

dpi.nsw.gov.au