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What is Peri-urban?

Peri-urban is the urban/rural interface commonly found around larger cities. It is a dynamic, diverse area and one of the fastest growing regions. It is often a mix of rural/agriculture/industry/commercial land-use and haphazard in its development.

What is the Peri-urban program?

NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) partnered with Greater Sydney Local Land Services (GS LLS) and started the Greater Sydney Peri Urban Biosecurity Program in November 2015. The program focuses on strengthening collaboration and improving the capacity to identify, respond and manage biosecurity threats. It focuses on urban and peri urban risks which are due to the introduction or spread of diseases, pests or weeds and affect humans, plants, animals or the environment. Through effectively managing these risks, the environment, community and people’s livelihoods will be protected.

Why was the Sydney chosen as a pilot region?

The peri urban area around Sydney has long been considered as a potential high biosecurity risk area for NSW. Sydney was chosen as a pilot location due to its large peri urban area, proximity to international ports, high density of small land holders and its function as a gateway to NSW. Increased urbanisation, globalisation, climatic changes, changing demographics, cultural diversity and the increase of emerging diseases are also factors that contribute to increased risk in the Greater Sydney region.

The Sydney region has more than 100 000 containers arriving per month through Sydney ports, 38.5 million people per year and 500 000 tonnes of air freight arriving into Sydney Airport. This high number of international movements can increase the likelihood of a biosecurity risk occurring in this region.

Already a number of biosecurity incursions have occurred in the Greater Sydney region including equine influenza (2007), Myrtle Rust (2010), Red Imported Fire Ants (2014), and Asian Black-spined toad (2015).

Sydney is the gateway to NSW and as a result protects and develops market access for the $15 billion NSW primary industries sector. Effectively managing the biosecurity risks in the Sydney basin will protect the community, environment and economy for the whole of NSW.