Conducting An Environmental Scan To Help Design A Successful Good Neighbours Program ​

Challenge

The Good Neighbours Program (GNP), a $10 million initiative under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015, addresses pest and weed infestations along public-private land interfaces. Recently transferred to Local Land Services (LLS), the program seeks to build land managers' skills, strengthen public-private collaboration, and improve pest and weed control through coordinated efforts. Early-stage challenges included integrating stakeholder input, aligning with biosecurity laws, and enhancing reporting and data sharing. ​

LLS engaged The Strategy Group to conduct a comprehensive environmental scan of existing programs, develop actionable recommendations, and establish a foundation for the GNP’s successful implementation.​

Approach

Co-designing program recommendations through stakeholder engagement and collaboration​

​The Strategy Group adopted a three-phase approach to support the development of the Good Neighbours Program:​

​1. Stakeholder Engagement and Program Identification​

• Conducted interviews with cross-tenure stakeholders, including representatives from National Parks, Crown Land, NSW Farmers, and Invasive Species Council, to gather insights into pest and weed program learnings.​
• Distributed surveys to internal and external stakeholders to identify programs relevant to the GNP.​

​2. Program Shortlisting​

• Collaborated with pest and weed subject matter experts to co-create program prioritisation criteria.​
• Shortlisted key programs for inclusion in the GNP.​

​3. Program Recommendations​

• Developed key recommendations for program management, systems, and data-sharing enhancements.​

Outcomes

A solid foundation to drive collaborative pest and weed management efforts across NSW​

We worked closely with LLS to finalise next steps for the GNP, achieving the following outcomes:​

• A shortlist of 19 key programs for inclusion in the GNP​
• GNP program management recommendations​
• GNP systems and data recommendations.​

The GNP is now positioned to lead collaborative pest and weed management across NSW. These initiatives will enhance compliance with the Biosecurity Act while equipping land managers to achieve sustainable, long-term results for both public and private lands.​