Neglected citrus orchards: NSW Biosecurity Act for citrus
September 2025
The NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 provides a modern and effective approach to managing biosecurity in NSW. It will increase efficiency and decrease regulation in responding to biosecurity risks. The legislation provides a streamlined statutory framework to protect the NSW economy, environment and community from the negative effects of pests, diseases and weeds.
Under the Biosecurity Act, everyone has a general biosecurity duty (GBD). This means that as a property owner, you must take all practical action to prevent, eliminate and minimise biosecurity risks. For example, if a property such as a neglected orchard, harbours invasive weeds or carries extremely high levels of pests or diseases, then all practical steps must be taken to ensure that these biosecurity risks do not affect the productivity of the neighbouring properties.
After giving notification, an NSW DPI compliance officer can inspect the property to determine the risks posed by the neglected orchard. The compliance officer will work through mitigation strategies with the owner with the aim of entering a voluntary undertaking. If no agreement can be reached, then an individual biosecurity direction (IBD) can be issued to ensure that the mitigation work is done. If the owner chooses not to manage the invasive pest, weed or disease, then the Biosecurity Act gives the NSW Government authority to have a contractor do the pest management works, the cost of which will be borne by the owner. This would be considered only in the most severe of circumstances; hopefully, in most cases, the owner of the neglected property will act on the undertaking or direction.
The broad objectives for biosecurity in NSW are to manage the biosecurity risks posed by animal and plant pests and diseases, weeds and contaminants by:
- preventing the entry of these threats into NSW
- quickly finding, containing and eradicating any new threats that have entered
- effectively minimising the effects of those pests, diseases, weeds, and contaminants that cannot be eradicated through robust management.
The Biosecurity Act 2015 provides a flexible and responsive statutory framework to help achieve these objectives for the benefit of the NSW economy, environment and community.
For more information, refer to:
- NSW DPI’s Abandoned and neglected horticultural enterprises fact sheet
- Contact the NSW Biosecurity Hotline on 1800 680 244
- Email quarantine@dpi.nsw.gov.au
To report a biosecurity concern, use the online form
