Greater Sydney Peri urban Biosecurity Social Research Project

The aim of this research project was to gather information to enable DPI and LLS staff and other stakeholders to improve smallholder engagement in biosecurity management in the Greater Sydney peri-urban area. In addressing this aim, the project sought to investigate peri-urban landholders’ current biosecurity knowledge and practices, including communication networks, and particularly their understanding of the notion of ‘shared responsibility’, and to identify the social and institutional factors that influence peri-urban landholders’ adoption of recommended biosecurity practices. Data were collected and analysed in three specific phases. The first phase, conducted in consultation with NSW DPI and LLS staff, involved identification of key stakeholders and selection of two case study regions – Leppington/Camden/Wollondilly and Hawkesbury. The second phase involved a stakeholder analysis in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 stakeholders from government, industry and the private sector to ascertain their issues of concern relevant to peri-urban biosecurity, and their perspectives on how to improve biosecurity engagement of smallholder peri-urban producers. A subsequent third phase of data collection was conducted involving semi-structured interviews with 21 peri-urban smallholders in the two case study regions. Challenges in accessing smallholders during this phase of the research meant a smaller than anticipated number of participants and the recruitment of smallholders likely to be more knowledgeable on, and engaged with, biosecurity.