Renewable energy developers, contractors and local stakeholders came together for an energy industry biosecurity-awareness workshop in Muswellbrook last week. The workshop was hosted by EnergyCo with Regional Development Australia Hunter and Charles Sturt University.

The message was simple: as NSW builds new energy infrastructure, we also need to protect farms, existing land uses, and the environment by understanding obligations under the Biosecurity Act and reducing risk on every worksite.

Agribusiness expert Dr Scott Glyde from Charles Sturt University led the one-day session, stepping through key biosecurity threats in NSW and practical approaches to biosecurity management.

Dr Glyde’s reminder was timely for anyone working across multiple sites and tenures:

“The advancement of renewables encapsulates both public and private land. It’s creating networks that engage wide and diverse stakeholders.”

“Every individual is responsible for biosecurity, not just corporations, not just government departments. Every single individual has an obligation under the Biosecurity Act to play their part.”

Workshop participant Nicola Kavanaugh from Genus highlighted the on-the-ground reality: “It’s in our best interest to minimise impacts on landholders because our reputation is what wins more work.”

Takeaway: Biosecurity planning needs to sit alongside safety, environment and community engagement from day one not as an afterthought.

How are you building biosecurity into your project planning and contractor onboarding?

Learn more: energyco.nsw.gov.au