The company has been working with landowners and authorities to minimise the risks when staff require access to properties to maintain the electricity network.

Late last month, more than 30 employees from across the state met with NSW Department of Primary Industries people in Port Macquarie to discuss the new laws.

The workshop covered potential ways to help landowners manage biosecurity impacts; pests and diseases in different regions and local areas; types and locations of weeds; and advice for accessing properties with biosecurity warnings.

The NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 replaces 14 outdated acts with a new modern framework that identifies biosecurity as a shared responsibility between the public, industry and government.

Safety, HR and environment general manager, David Nardi, said Essential Energy regularly reviewed its procedures for minimising risks in line with relevant law changes.

“Essential Energy recognises the importance of conserving Australia’s unique biodiversity while delivering a safe, reliable and affordable electricity network,” Mr Nardi said.

“We work closely with many different industries across regional, rural and remote NSW to ensure our daily operations don’t adversely impact the environmental footprint.”

Outcomes from the workshop will be developed more with the help of the NSW DPI, and put into place where appropriate.

“Essential Energy values our partnership with the NSW Department of Primary Industries in planning for the management of biosecurity risks and potential impacts on our operations,” Mr Nardi said.

“Our Health, Safety and Environment Manual: Flora and Fauna outlines procedures for managing biodiversity risks to ensure [our] operations are implemented and completed in an environmentally responsible manner, minimising impacts on plants and animals.

“It is reassuring to know that our biosecurity measures will deliver reasonable, practical outcomes that consider industry needs in line with our responsibility to deliver a safe and reliable electricity network.”