Road Conditions NSW: Changes to fire ants emergency order for freight operators
Source: Transport for NSW
Are you transporting high risk fire ant carrier materials into NSW from QLD?
The NSW Fire Ant response continues following detections of the invasive species at Murwillumbah in November 2023, Wardell in January 2024, and an interception at Clunes on 13 November 2024.
In November last year the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) issued an Emergency Order to strengthen biosecurity measures and protect the state from fire ants. The department has revised the Biosecurity Emergency Order, providing clearer guidance and improved safeguards for stakeholders involved in the movement of fire ant carriers.
What has changed recently?
The movement of turf sourced from Queensland infested areas is temporarily suspended (as of 15 November 2024), pending investigations following the Clunes interception.
For freight operators, carrier definitions have changed (from Order No. 14, published 12 November 2024). Heavy vehicles and equipment (previously classified as agricultural equipment and earthmoving equipment, dump tricks and bins) are now classified as follows, if moving into NSW from a Qld or NSW fire ant infested area or fire ant movement control area:
- Heavy vehicles: need to be clean so they are free of soil, as per the Order.
- Agricultural & horticultural equipment: needs to be clean so they are free of soil, as per the Order.
- Earth moving equipment: needs to be clean so it is free of soil, Record of Movement (RoM) declaration, as per the Order.
- Pallets, packaging, containers & covers: need to be clean so they are free of soil, as per the Order.
For full requirements and obligations, stakeholders are encouraged to read the new Order, Plain English Guide and Group Biosecurity Permit (for movement from Murwillumbah & Wardell).
For those moving hay from Queensland, following a thorough risk assessment, NSW now allows unfumigated hay, from lower risk areas of the Qld fire ant infested area, to enter NSW in accordance with a new Permit.
For more information on fire ants, identification, nests and how DPI is managing the threat to NSW, visit: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants or call 1800 680 244.
Regards
Transport for NSW
Useful information
Fire ant map
Think you have seen them?
Call 1800 680 244
