Greater Sydney local annual achievement report

Chair foreword

2025 saw strong regional progress driven by collaboration, innovation and commitment to healthy landscapes and communities. Our Natural Resource Management team worked with Kurrajong landholders to restore koala habitat, highlighted by the first koala sighting on a property in 50 years, an encouraging sign that our shared efforts are supporting regional koala recovery.

At Orchard Hills, we strengthened our integrated approach to agricultural and natural resource management, restoring soil health to support the revegetation of Cumberland Plain Woodland. These innovations build regional capacity for sustainable land stewardship and embed First Nations knowledge and methodology.

Our Demonstration Farm remains a thriving hub, hosting more trials with new innovation partners while continuing to donate fresh produce to Food Bank. Its expanding role highlights our commitment to practical learning, collaboration, and community benefit.

Managing pest animals also remained a critical priority. Our bi‑annual aerial control programs in the Megalong and Kanimbla Valleys now cover almost 200 holdings and consistently remove 95% of animals sighted. Deer control efforts continue across Macarthur, Cattai and Kurrajong, and a new Central Coast program now integrates multiple control methods and emerging technologies. In partnership with NSW DPIRD, we strengthened early detection of new incursions such as cane toads and other exotic pests.

As Chair, I would like to thank the Board members, management team and staff for their continued commitment to delivering our valuable services. I am proud of our staff, partners and landholders, and I look forward to building on this momentum. 

Polly Bennett
Chair, Greater Sydney local board

Achievements

• 147,232 ha of vertebrate pest control
• 1,754 1:1 landholder advice consultations
• 4,671 participants at awareness raising/capacity building events
• 53 animal disease surveillance investigations
• 67.35% of staff completed emergency management foundational training
• 2,252 ha of weed management for improved biosecurity, agricultural productivity and biodiversity
• 1,754 holdings participating in pest animal control
• 140 participants at Aboriginal training events.