National

Lockdown called after super pest found in city facility

By Tom Wark

Oct 26, 2026

Fire ants have the potential to cost the Australian economy up to $2 billion a year. -AP

The detection of a pest with the ability to wreak havoc on Australia's economy has triggered a biosecurity lockdown in a major suburb.

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Southwest Sydney suburb Enfield will be subject to a biosecurity control order from Monday after fire ants were discovered at the area's freight centre in late September.

The lockdown will cover a two-kilometre radius from the Enfield intermodal logistics centre, where red fire ants - likely to have been imported from overseas via a shipping container - were discovered.

Fire ants are notorious for their extremely painful sting and pose a major threat to agriculture and native wildlife.

The Invasive Species Council has previously warned the spread of the "super pest" could cost the Australian economy up to $2 billion a year.

Despite nine sniffer dogs and 60 personnel not finding any more of the invasive pests since the initial detection, NSW's Agriculture Minister said no chances would be taken.

"For most people, daily life will continue as normal. People can go to work, visit friends and family, and move around the area as they always do," Tara Moriarty said.

"The restrictions only apply to the movement of specific high-risk materials that could carry fire ants."

Turf, mulch, soil, potted plants and heavy equipment are the types of items that will have their movements restricted under the control order.

Businesses will be required to properly treat and handle the material before it can be moved through the lockdown zone.

Fire ants vary between 2-6 millimetres in length and are dark red-brown in colour but most people spot their nests before the pests themselves.

Nests appear as areas of bare, loose soil ranging from flat patches up to mounds reaching 40cm high with no visible entrance hole.

The Invasive Species Council warned the spread of the "super pest" could cost the Australian economy up to $2 billion a year.

Entomologists confirmed the Sydney fire ants discovery was not linked to the country's other outbreak in southeast Queensland.

The month-long gap between detection and the imposition of the lockdown allowed the government to undertake an education campaign for the local community, Ms Moriarty said.

A community drop-in centre in Strathfield Park has been set-up for community members to learn how to spot the pest, including a live high security fire ants' tank to show people what they look like.