The NSW Government is implementing a fire ant Biosecurity Control Order covering a two-kilometre radius zone around the Enfield Intermodal Logistics centre following an intensive public engagement program in the area to educate businesses and people on how the regulation of the movement of high-risk fire ant carrier materials would work.
Consultation with local government, businesses and the community has helped shape the Control Order, which will today come into effect.
So far, the NSW Government has not detected any more fire ants since the initial nest found in late September despite nearly 400 public reports to the hotline.
Surveillance has been intensive around the inner 500-metre inner zone of the two-kilometre fire ant zone of activity where the control order will come into effect.
The team of nine sniffer dogs and 60 personnel have not detected any more fire ant nests along the streets, parks, or schools.
Due to the unique mix of heavy industrial, business, parkland and concentration of people where English was a second language in the two-kilometre focus zone, the expert advice was that the first priority had to be to raise awareness of fire ants and educate people on how to treat high risk materials.
A significant number of sites within the zone have been visited by biosecurity officers to discuss, educate and inspect premises.
A permanent community information drop-in centre has been set up in at Strathfield Park with a live high security fire ants’ tank, that is a “ant farm” with live fire ants to show people what they look like. This follows pop-up stands at Chullora Marketplace and Bunnings over the last two weeks.
Now that the local community have a good awareness and understanding of what is required, the next step the NSW Government could take was to introduce the control order.
The introduction of the control order sets up a long-term approach of monitoring and compliance for the next six to 24 months.
The Control Order will only apply to the movement of high-risk carrier material such as turf, mulch, soil, potted plants and heavy equipment.
Businesses will need to properly treat and handle these types of materials before they can transport the materials out of or through the Control Zone.
The Control Order will not limit the movement of people going about their daily business.
It will only apply if you plan to carry a defined fire ant carrier material out of or through the Control Zone. Movements within the zone are not included.
It is expected the conditions in the Order will be achievable and NSW Government experts will keep working closely with businesses to support them in meeting the conditions.
The NSW Government is continuing to ask the community and businesses, if you suspect the presence of fire ants:
