Gateway pests of NSW

Each person has a duty of care to protect our environment from pests, weeds and diseases. ​

Despite all our efforts at the national border to stop the entry of exotic (or non-native) pests and diseases into NSW, there is always a chance something could still slip through. ​

Many overseas pests and diseases have no natural enemies in Australia and in the right conditions, these pests and diseases could easily take over, significantly impacting agricultural production, trade access, our natural environment and way of life.

Everyone is encouraged to report any unusual pests or unusual signs of pests and disease to help protect what we love. The short-term impacts of any response is highly preferable to the long term management costs and inconvenience that could be experienced if the pest or disease became established.

People working in freight, logistics, ports and the agricultural sectors are part of our front-line detection squad and perform a critical role in surveillance activities including detection, identification and reporting of high priority pests relevant to their industries.

NSW post-border surveillance and reporting training development

To manage the risk of a high priority pest entering NSW, local council staff from LGAs surrounding Port Botany, employed in the outdoor maintenance and operations teams have been trained in the recognition, surveillance and reporting of cargo pests, priority exotic plant pests and new incursion species.

Since 2016, Greater Sydney Local Land Services (GSLLS) has led the training that is conducted in partnership with NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE).

NSW DPI Gateway e-learning modules

People who work and play in areas along the high-risk pathways from the sea, air and cruise line ports, are also part of our front-line defence against these exotic invaders.

Biosecurity is a “shared responsibility” and everyone, no matter where they live or what they do for a living, has a legal responsibility to make sure pests and diseases are not introduced to, or allowed to spread, throughout our community or environment.  ​Biosecurity is everyone’s business and we need your help as our eyes and ears, to ‘shut the gate’ on these exotic pests and disease to help us protect what we love.

To broaden awareness and boost post-border surveillance and detection along high-risk pathways, NSW DPI and Greater Sydney Local Land Services have developed an online education and training package to support our front-line detection squad for the following groups:

These e-learning modules feature known overseas and interstate pests that are recognised as having high damage potential to industries if they were to become established in NSW and Australia. These online learning modules have been designed to build capacity among people working in freight, logistics, ports and the agricultural sectors as well as community groups eg ports, community groups and local community gardening groups, to build networks and increase:

• awareness of priority pests
• surveillance networks
• reporting capacity within the community.

Early detection and reporting are key to successfully eradicating an exotic pest or disease incursion. The earlier anything unusual is discovered and reported, the less chance it has to reproduce and spread.

Access E-Learning Modules