A biosecurity lockdown has been triggered in a busy Sydney suburb after the discovery of a pest with the ability to wreak havoc on Australia’s economy.

Enfield, in the city’s south-west, is subject to a biosecurity control order from Monday following the discovery almost a month ago of fire ants at the area’s freight centre.

The lockdown covers 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 finding no sign of the invasive pests since the initial detection, NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty 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,” she 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 are 2-6 millimetres long 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 40 centimetres high with no visible entrance hole.

Entomologists confirmed the Sydney fire ants discovery was not linked to the country’s other outbreak in south-east Queensland.

Moriarty said the month-long gap between the detection and imposing the lockdown allowed the state government to undertake an education campaign for the local community.

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

-AAP