About the program
Local Land Services' Good Neighbours Program aims to protect the NSW economy, environment and community by investing in pest and weed management through enhanced collaboration, training and coordinated control activities.
Key information
- Over 70% of NSW’s threatened species and endangered ecological communities are impacted by invasive species.
- Effective pest and weed management is critical for maintaining ecological balance, agricultural productivity, and biodiversity.
- The NSW Government will bring key stakeholders together to deliver a coordinated program to manage pest and weed infestations where public and private land boundaries meet.
Objectives
Foster collaboration between public and private land managers to improve pest and weed management across boundaries.
Enhance pest and weed management efforts through coordinated, multi-agency control activities in priority areas.
Build community capabilities and understanding of the Biosecurity Act 2015 through engagement and targeted training.
Improve public reporting and data sharing on pest and weed management.
Our approach
Good Neighbours Program activities include:
- agency-run programs
- upskilling and training delivery and support
- boosting and collaborating with other existing programs and projects.
Establishment
Work in 2024 included:
- setting up a governance model and structure
- creation of a stakeholder reference group
- conducting an environmental scan
- behavioural insights research
- project selection.
On-ground work
- Round 1 projects.
- Round 2 projects.
- Targeted training for public agency staff.
- Stakeholder engagement between Local Land Services (LLS) and public and private land managers.
Close
The program is set for completion by 30 June 2026.
Round 1 projects
Tamworth peri-urban pest plan
North West Region
LLS is supporting Local Control Authorities to develop and deliver a pest plan to manage invasive species in Tamworth’s peri-urban areas.
Boxing glove control
Western Region
LLS is supporting land managers to reduce the spread of Boxing glove cactus through Sturt National Park and the Tibooburra area.
Jumping cholla control
Western Region
LLS is managing cacti in Broken Hill area and surrounding stations.
Orange hawkweed control
South East Region
LLS is supporting this control with funding to improve the effectiveness of the current program, by enhancing surveillance and on-ground surveys.
Central Tablelands region
LLS is partnering with Foresty Corporation NSW to reduce weeds in high priority areas such as riverbanks and areas bordering private land managers.
Partner:
- Forestry Corporation NSW.
Central West region
LLS is supporting the coordinated and strategic control of Blackberry and St John’s Wort impacting Goobang National Park’s biodiversity.
Partner:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
North Coast region
LLS is working with multiple agencies and programs to increase the control success of cane toads and reduce their impacts on the community.
Partners:
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Forestry Corporation NSW.
Central Tablelands region
LLS is increasing the success of alternative control measures for feral pigs impacting the Central Tablelands forestry areas and neighbouring private landholders.
Partners:
- Forestry Corporation NSW.
North Coast region
LLS is partnering with Local Control Authorities to support landholders in eradicating Chinese Violet on properties on the verge of the World Heritage-listed Wollumbin National Park and Jerusalem National Park.
Partners:
- Local Control Authorities.
South East region
LLS is working alongside Far South Coast Landcare Association, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Local Control Authorities to control coastal weeds including Bitou Bush and Sea Spurge along priority beaches.
Partners:
- Far South Coast Landcare Association
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Local Control Authorities.
Western, Central West, Central Tablelands, North West, Riverina and Murray regions
LLS is supporting Forestry Corporation NSW to manage pests, specifically pigs and foxes, along boundaries with private land managers.
Partners:
- Forestry Corporation NSW.
Western region
LLS is supporting the Western region to manage Hudson Pear, which is impacting private landholders and Kinchega National Park.
Partners:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Local Control Authorities.
North Coast and other priority regions
LLS is supporting Local Control Authorities to manage Job’s Tears throughout multiple LLS regions.
Partners:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Local Control Authorities.
North Coast and Northern Tablelands regions
LLS is supporting the efforts of NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Local Control Authorities and the North Coast community in a broad scale pig control approach across 12 reserves and associated private landholders.
Partner:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
North West region
LLS is increasing the Parthenium Weed Program to improve management efforts alongside Croppa Creek and prevent spread across the region.
Partner:
- Local Control Authorities.
North Coast region
LLS is partnering with Local Control Authorities to increase the control of Red Cestrum across the Dorrigo Plateau.
Partner:
- Local Control Authorities.
North Coast region
LLS is partnering with Local Control Authorities to manage Tropical Soda Apple throughout multiple Local Land Services regions.
Partners:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Local Control Authorities.
North Coast region
LLS is taking an integrated approach to addressing the wild horse population in the Barcoongere area to reduce the safety risks to the community.
Partners:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Forestry Corporation NSW.
Central Tablelands, Hunter, Greater Sydney and South-East regions
LLS is collaborating with multiple key stakeholders to enhance the protection of the World Heritage Area through feral deer management.
Partners:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Invasive Species Council
- Forestry Corporation NSW.
Program and project updates
Reducing the impact of harrisia cactus on agricultural land in Warren Shire
Castlereagh Macquarie County Council biosecurity officers have mapped out known harrisia cactus infestation sites and launched a control campaign as part of the project.
Orange hawkweed control
Local Land Services project officers are working with National Parks and Wildlife Service conducting surveillance and monitoring for orange hawkweed control in the Jagungal Wilderness Area.
Opuntioid Cacti identification workshop
The Good Neighbours Program team brought together 7 agencies and experts in invasive species management in Broken Hill to learn about Opuntioid Cacti.
The workshop delivered hands-on, practical information to attendees, covering:
- how to spot and identify cacti
- how to protect their property and the local environment
- correct disposal of Opuntioids
- available biological control agents
- legislative and control requirements
- key prohibited matter plants.
The workshop fostered collaboration between public land managers and contributed to building community capabilities through engagement and targeted training.
World Heritage Area feral deer management
Good Neighbours Program staff have been working with NSW National Parks and Wildlife service field staff to set up a camera array to monitor for invasive deer.
The cameras will help better understand deer movements and population trends, so that upcoming control efforts will be targeted and more effective.
2025 NSW Vertebrate Pest Management Symposium
Good Neighbours Program team members attended the 2025 NSW Vertebrate Pest Management Symposium. This event brought together government and non-government pest practitioners to learn about new developments, research, policy and emerging technologies in pest management.
The team showcased the project's approach to working with private and public landholders across boundaries. The team was also able to collaborate and network with other agencies and experts to improve project outcomes.
Bathurst Forestry weeds plan
The Good Neighbours Program team visited Sunny Corner State Forest to review work being completed by the team under the Bathurst Forestry weeds plan.
The team is targeting priority weeds such as gorse weed, a spiny, invasive shrub that:
- forms dense thickets
- spreads rapidly
- fuels bushfires
- shelters pests like rabbits
- pushes out native plants.
By targeting riparian zones and working with neighbouring landholders, the team is cutting down seed spread, protecting waterways and helping to control this invasive weed.
Far South coastal weeds management
Results from one of the recent weed surveys in the remote Nadgee wilderness area reported:
- 7 participants gained native beach plant identification, weed identification and control skills
- over 2000 sea spurge seedlings and mature plants were removed
- sea spurge infestations in untracked and rarely visited areas were treated
- 18kg of marine debris was removed.
2025 NSW Weeds Conference
Good Neighbours Program team members attended the 2025 NSW Weeds Conference, providing an opportunity to network with other agencies.
The team showcased the Program’s collaborative approach to weed management by working with private and public landholders. Their presentation highlighted how collaboration can create lasting changes in community participation and success.
Tamworth peri-urban pest plan
The Good Neighbours Program team led a planning session for the Tamworth peri-urban pest plan with various agencies.
Boxing glove control
Early results from control carried out near Tibooburra as part of the Boxing glove control project show some dying cactus across the landscape.
Pest animal masterclass
The Good Neighbours Program team and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development delivered a pest animal masterclass to public land managers focused on feral pigs and deer.
Topics included:
- biology and ecology of feral pigs and deer
- monitoring and control strategies
- signs of pest animals
- diseases and risk management
- real control activities in the field.
The course encouraged the development of professional networks across agencies and provided an opportunity to share challenges and successes.
Round 2 projects
North Coast region
LLS is supporting public agencies and private landholders to deliver a weed management project to control the invasive vine weed kudzu on private and public land bordering the township of Comboyne on the NSW North Coast. This effort aims to reduce the spread and impact of kudzu to a level where land managers can continue to manage its impacts.
Partners:
- Port Macquarie Hastings Council
- Forestry Corporation of NSW
- private landholders.
North Coast region
LLS is supporting public agencies, community groups and private landholders to deliver a targeted priority weed management project focusing on the localised containment of glory lily along coastal dunes within national parks, public land, and Local Aboriginal Land Council land.
Partners:
- South West Rocks Community Dune Care
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Kempsey Shire Council
- Kempsey Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Western region
LLS in collaboration with public agencies and private landholders will deliver a comprehensive pest management program. This program will target feral deer on public and private land in the Hillston-Euabalong area.
Partners:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- private landholders.
Northern Tablelands and North West regions
LLS is supporting public agencies and local landholders to deliver a collaborative pest management project to reduce the impact of feral deer and other priority pests in the Gwydir State Conservation Area. The project will undertake control measures and build skills, capacity and collaboration for ongoing management.
Partners:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Forestry Corporation of NSW.
North Coast and Northern Tablelands regions
LLS is working with public agencies on a coordinated effort to control tropical soda apple on different types of public land and neighbouring properties in areas across the North Coast and Northern Tablelands regions.
Partners:
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Forestry Corporation of NSW
- Rous County Council
- Armidale Regional Council
- Tenterfield Shire Council
- Thungutti Local Aboriginal Land Council
- private landholders.
North Coast and Hunter regions
LLS is supporting public agencies and private landholders to deliver a targeted weed management project. This project will aim to control red cestrum along roadsides and other public and private land in Killabakh Nature Reserve.
Partners:
- Port Macquarie Hastings Council
- MidCoast Council
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- private landholders.
Statewide
LLS is supporting Crown Lands and adjoining landholders to develop, implement an improved statewide biosecurity strategy to guide best practice biosecurity management.
Central Tablelands region
LLS in conjunction with public and private land managers will develop a strategic plan to assess and implement best practice wild dog control across the Central Tablelands.
Partners:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Forestry Corporation of NSW
- Crown Lands
- Corporate land managers
- private landholders.
Central Tablelands region
LLS is supporting Forestry Corporation of NSW and private landholders to conduct on-ground control in the Bathurst region. The project aims to reduce the impacts of a broad range of invasive species, primarily feral deer.
Partners:
- Forestry Corporation of NSW
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- private landholders.
North Coast region
LLS is supporting public agencies and private landholders to reduce the impacts of invasive vertebrate pests on the endangered coastal emu population in and around the forests of the Clarence region.
Partners:
- Forestry Corporation of NSW
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- private landholders.
Central Tablelands region
LLS is supporting public agencies and private landholders participating in the North Bathurst pest management project. The project aims to reduce the impacts of feral deer and pigs across both public and private land.
Partners:
- Crown Lands
- Forestry Corporation of NSW
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- private landholders.
Northern Tablelands region
LLS is supporting public agencies and private landholders to deliver a targeted weed management program to manage Osage orange along 20 kilometres of the Macintyre River, protecting valuable riparian zones and agricultural land.
Partners:
- Inverell Shire Council
- GWYMAC Landcare
- private landholders.
Western region
LLS in collaboration with public agencies and private landholders will support the delivery of a multifaceted pest and weed management program aimed at preserving the biological diversity of the Ramsar listed Caryapundy Swamp.
Partners:
- Natural Heritage Trust
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
North Coast and Hunter regions
LLS is supporting public agencies and private landholders to deliver a feral pig management project across multiple state forests and neighbouring private land on the Mid North Coast.
Partners:
- Forestry Corporation of NSW
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- private landholders.
South East region
LLS is supporting public agencies and private landholders to deliver a comprehensive pest and weed management project. This project aims to reduce the impact of feral deer and invasive weeds in the South East Region. This project provides practical support and training to landholders to meet their biosecurity obligations.
Partners:
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (Saving Our Species)
- Wingecarribee Shire Council
- Robertson Environment Protection Society
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Central West region
LLS, Castlereagh Macquarie County Council and private landholders, will coordinate efforts to control the spread and impacts of harrisia cactus in Central Western NSW.
Partners:
- Castlereagh Macquarie County Council
- private landholders.
Hunter region
LLS is supporting public agencies and private landholders to deliver a cross-tenure pest and weed management project. This program aims to create a buffer to protect sensitive ecological areas within the Hunter Wetlands National Park.
Partners:
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Port Stephens City Council
- City of Newcastle Council
- private landholders.
Building capabilities
The Good Neighbours Program will be delivering biosecurity workshops and events across NSW.
Visit the LLS events page to search for upcoming events.
For further information about the Good Neighbours Program, email goodneighbours@lls.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 795 299.
Contact Local Land Services NSW
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