<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A nest of invasive fire ants has been found on a property in Tweed Heads, NSW, prompting calls for action to keep the spread from coming further south of the border.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The state government yesterday confirmed the "immature" nest had been destroyed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Their team also undertook a survey of the immediate 500 metres surrounding the site to check for any other fire ant activity.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/diddy-update-sean-combs-found-not-guilty-on-most-serious-charges-in-sex-trafficking-trial/05f4fcdf-86cf-4d76-91d1-3090cb7da44c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Diddy supporters cover themselves in baby oil after bombshell court verdict</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A genetic analysis has begun to determine the likely source of the pests, supported with tracing any movements of materials, and engaging with the landholder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A new control order will be issued establishing a 5 km zone to restrict movement of high-risk materials and undertake any required steps to control and treat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a national biosecurity emergency unfolding right in front of us," Invasive Species Council advocacy manager Reece Pianta said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fire-ant-nest-found-destroyed-tweed-heads-nsw-calls-for-action/902112b0-4b60-48a4-868f-1fce6b0244b4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bryan-kohberger-admits-to-idaho-university-student-deaths/50e715a2-d6a2-48fe-8d16-2345db79455e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Man admits to brutal slayings of four US uni students</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We urgently need the Albanese government to step up, match Queensland's $24 million suppression funding boost, and commit to the full ongoing eradication program."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pianta said any spread of fire ants from the current containment zone would devastate Australia's agriculture and native fauna, as well as threaten public health.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Fire ants are among the world's worst invasive pests," Pianta said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/community-expresses-disgust-at-alleged-childcare-rapist-as-urgent-review-launched/ecf4dda8-7f8a-435f-93ea-43f7fd152b74" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Personal devices to be banned in childcare centres</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2023/01/25/10/42/deadliest-most-dangerous-animals-on-earth-in-pictures"><img alt="14: Jellyfish" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/M9MqCtDq_rpfpCveqGfX4u2CxvM=/1043x1178:5921x3921/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F1151db6b-4cc3-4bcb-9dc3-77231cf03e4c" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/M9MqCtDq_rpfpCveqGfX4u2CxvM=/1043x1178:5921x3921/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F1151db6b-4cc3-4bcb-9dc3-77231cf03e4c 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/8Kqjnk1KT53YlMfO7vOsEoKb5VU=/1043x1178:5921x3921/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F1151db6b-4cc3-4bcb-9dc3-77231cf03e4c 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">It's the size of a thumbtack and kills with a single touch</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2023/01/25/10/42/deadliest-most-dangerous-animals-on-earth-in-pictures">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Their aggressive stings can trigger severe allergic reactions in humans, and they pose a serious threat to pets, livestock, native animals, and infrastructure."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NSW Farmers Association is also calling for a crackdown, with biosecurity committee chair Tony Hegarty saying the repeated detections of fire ants in the state pointed to a colossal biosecurity failure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're rapidly losing the battle from one pest to another here in NSW, and the way we're going, fire ants could well be the next threat our government fails to control," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Current biosecurity measures clearly aren't doing the job, and while we've got $100 million in new biosecurity funding, this one pest alone could cost us $60 billion over the next 30 years."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anybody in NSW who sees a suspected fire ant or fire ant site is urged to contact the Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244, or notify the government </span><a href="https://forms.bfs.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forms/9247" rel="" target="_blank" title="online"><span>online</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>