There are fears a New South Wales bee breeding 'palace' is under threat, a week on from varroa mite being detected at the Port of Newcastle.
Millions of bees have already been destroyed to curb the spread of the parasite in a bid to keep Australia free of varroa mite.
Another emergency zone has been set up at Calga, on the Central Coast, taking the total number of impacted properties to nine.
One site that could be under threat is a $2.8-million 'bee palace' opened at Tocal in the NSW Hunter region last year.
Researchers have been studying bee genetics and varroa mite control at the Tocal Agricultural Institute site for years and this outbreak threatens one of its largest projects, the National Honey Bee Genetic Improvement Program.
The program focuses on identifying and selecting traits of importance to beekeeping, horticulture and broad acre industries, with the aim to develop a national database to assist beekeepers choose their breeding stock according to specific traits.
The Department of Primary Industries runs the site just 3 kilometres outside the Seaham eradication zone.
"The queen bee palace is the heart of our genetic improvement program and research and probably our best line of defence against this mite getting out across the country," Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell said.
But Mr Layzell said Tocal remained in a "high risk" zone.
Australian Honeybee Industry Council chair Steve Targett said discussions were occurring to get protection protocols put in place for the breeding bees.
"But we do not want [varroa mite] to escape by trying to save our genetic material," he said.
Tocal College's beekeeping course, which is "one of their most popular courses", is continuing but without practical elements while NSW remains under a beehive movement ban.
NSW authorities remain confident they can eradicate the parasite.
