Local Land Services regions

What will the new Local Land Services deliver? • agricultural advice

• plant and animal pest control and biosecurity

• natural resource management

• emergency management

Local Land Services will be regionally‑based, semi‑autonomous organisations, governed by locally‑elected and Government appointed skills‑based board members. One central Local Land Services board of chairs will be made up of representatives from each local board and an independent chair.

Each Local Land Services region will develop operational management plans that will prioritise service delivery on a regional basis, reflecting regional priorities. Individual Local Land Services will be independently audited to ensure accountability and delivery against priorities.

FundingLocal Land Services will be funded via direct budget contributions from the NSW Government, ratepayer funds and a continuation of natural resource grant funding via the State and Australian Governments.

Local Land Services boards will also receive annual funding from the Local Land Services Future Fund, a consolidation of cash assets amounting to $35 million, from the Livestock Health and Pest Authority and Catchment Management Authorities.

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/locallandservices

Local Land Services is a new approach to delivering services, information and advice to farmers and land managers across NSW.

Local Land Services will be managed by local people on local boards, working closely with farmers, land managers and communities to deliver services that are relevant to their local needs.

Local Land Services brings together a wealth of technical and advisory knowledge from parts of the Department

of Primary Industries, Livestock Health and Pest Authorities and Catchment Management Authorities into a new grass roots model for regional service delivery.

New South Wales is the only Australian State with a comprehensive network of local agriculture, biosecurity and natural resources management services integrated into one agency.

Local Land Services will have• 11 regions

• 7‑member local boards – four Government appointments and three ratepayer elected positions (Western Local Land Services will have a 5:4 ratio due to its size)

• 1 board of chairs with an independent chair

LOCAL LAND SERVICES Productive Primary Industries, Connected Catchments

The factsRegions • Eleven Local Land Services regions

• In most cases boundaries align with Local Government Areas

Governance • Eleven local boards across the State

• Local board composition: three elected members and four Government appointments (Western: four elected, five Government appointments)

• Government appoints interim chair

• Local Land Services board of chairs: independent chair and eleven regional chairs

• Each region has at least one community advisory group

Services• Local presence across the region

• Services specific to local industries and needs

• Agricultural advice – agronomy, livestock, mixed farming, horticulture, irrigation

• Plant and animal biosecurity – veterinary and pest management

• Natural resource management

• Emergency management and preparedness – assessment, recovery and preparation

• Links with DPI research and industry development

Staffing• Each region has a general manager who is

responsible for operational performance

• Staff located at key sites and accessible to customers

• In‑built flexibility to meet the priorities of clients and the local board

Funding• Shared contributions from ratepayers,

NSW Government and the Federal Government

• Funds allocated to specific purpose, e.g. biosecurity, NRM projects and advisory services

• Local boards accountable for performance of organisations

GovernanceLocal boards will have primary responsibility for the day‑to‑day operations of service delivery, project administration and engagement with their local communities.

The NSW Government will appoint the inaugural chair of each local board for a period of three years.

Each chair will also sit on the Local Land Services board of chairs, an entity responsible for ensuring consistency, delivery of statewide priorities and annual performance and financial reporting.

The board of chairs will have an independent chair, a position appointed by the NSW Government.

Local community advisory groups will be established to represent community views and provide advice to local boards.

What Local Land Services means for youWhether it’s cropping, livestock, horticulture, biosecurity or sustainable agriculture advice, Local Land Services will give farmers easy access to the latest information and services – all from one convenient local source.

• Providing answers – to improve your farm business, land management and catchment.

• Biosecurity smart – helping keep pests and diseases off your farm and out of NSW.

• Local and relevant – local boards, local decisions and tailored services for your area and for your industry.

• Independent and scientifically sound advice – services remain independent and transparent.

• Help that counts – identifying opportunities, risks and better ways of farming.

• Keeping up with the times – new ways of accessing information and advice through mobile phone and tablet apps, better internet presence and easy access to online resources.

From January 2014 Local Land Services will be operational across NSW, delivering functions now provided by Catchment Management Authorities, Livestock Health and Pest Authorities, and some agriculture advisory services of the Department of Primary Industries.

Landowners are still able to access existing services from DPI, LHPAs and CMAs in the interim.

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/locallandservices

Local Land Services board of chairs

Independent chair

Local board chairs

Local Land Services local boards

Ratepayer elected

Government appointmentsGovernment appoints interim chairWestern Local Land Services: four elected members and five Government appointed members

North Coast

Riverina

Hunter

Central West

Central TablelandsNorthern

Tablelands

Greater Sydney

South East

Murray

Western

North West

© NSW Government through the Department of Trade, Investment , Regional Infrastructure and Services, 2013.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (June 2013). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that the information upon which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services or the user’s independent adviser.

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