Your Local Land Services rates notice will arrive shortly
Rates contribute to our biosecurity, animal health and emergency management work which helps us, help you when you need it most. Even though you may not have livestock, your property will have benefited from our services including our coordinated pest and weed control programs.
The Local Land Services Board set rates each year based on the cost of doing business and the need for services across the state. Rates have marginally increased in 2023 as there has been an increased demand for our services along with increased need for biosecurity support throughout the state.
Rates collected across the state from landholders contribute up to one fifth of Local Land Services operating budget, and 100% of the rates collected are returned to our customers through our regional services and on-ground support.
Instructions on how to pay are on your rates notice, and payment methods include:
Cheque in the mail (post to Accounts Receivable, Local Land Services, Locked Bag 6007 Orange NSW 2800)
If you wish to pay in person, please call 1300 795 299 to arrange a time to visit your local office.
Under the Local Land Services Act 2013, we must charge rates on all land classified as rateable land under the Act. This is generally land 10 hectares or more in size (40 hectares in the Western region and 20 hectares in some parts of Murray and Riverina regions). Our rates are different to council rates charged under the Local Government Act 1993.
If you are experiencing hardship, we can help. Please call 1300 795 299 to discuss setting up a payment plan with your local team.
If you have recently sold your property, or are in the process of selling,
please call us to update your contact details or use the online form
on our website www.lls.nsw.gov.au/contact-us
Biosecurity
Spotted anything unusual?
Australia is currently free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The $22.8 million FMD Prevention and Preparedness Program being delivered by Local Land Services will help maintain this status. If you spot anything unusual in your livestock, call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 or your Local Land Services district vet on 1300 795 299.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed (two-toed) animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, deer and camelids including wild and feral animals). Onset and severity of clinical signs will vary between animals. Vesicular lesions (blisters, ulcers, and sores) in cattle may be found in the mouth and on the feet, muzzle/nostrils, and teats. Cattle with FMD may exhibit one or more of the following clinical signs:
blisters on the mouth, snout, tongue, lips or feet
erosions remaining after blisters rupture
drooling
fever (39.4 - 41.1°C)
limping and reluctance to move
production losses.
In sheep and goats, the disease is usually mild with few lesions, however, clinical signs can include fever, lameness and oral lesions, which are often mild.
Given the continuing hot and dry conditions, we’re reminding producers to keep an eye out for the early signs of the infection throughout summer.
The bacterial infection is highly contagious in cattle, causing inflammation and sometimes ulceration of the cornea.
Riverina Local Land Services Animal Biosecurity and Welfare Team Leader Elizabeth Ferguson said pinkeye is most likely to occur in summer, when conditions are drier and more flies are present.
“The first sign of pinkeye is when the eye starts to weep and as the infection progresses, the membranes of the eye become red and swollen, eventually causing the eye to become cloudy and ulcerated,” Dr Ferguson said.
“Flies are attracted to the watery eyes, feeding on the infected secretions and then they move from animal to animal, which can spread the disease very quickly through the herd.
“When identified early, treatment of pinkeye is generally successful and should be started as early as possible to minimise adverse animal welfare outcomes and limit the spread though the herd.”
If you have concerns about the health of your livestock, please contact
your nearest Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299.
Travelling stock reserves
Thinking of replacing or maintaining an existing fence that borders a travelling stock reserve?
Whether cultivating, sowing or putting up a new fence or needing to maintain an existing, if you adjoin a travelling stock reserve (TSR) it’s important to know your legislative requirements before starting any works.
To avoid accidentally damaging a TSR, we’re asking landholders to contact Local Land Services to arrange an onsite inspection of your proposed works.
Doing so will help protect our TSRs, which are not only used for agricultural productivity but also play a key role in supporting threatened species and improving biodiversity.
Across the Riverina we promote a balance of TSR use for production, social, cultural and environmental outcomes and are continuously working to maintain and improve the land’s natural resources.
If you’re unsure who to contact, please give one of our TSR rangers a call who can help arrange the process.
Local Land Services is this month welcoming 10 graduates across the state to join our agriculture, biosecurity and natural resource management teams for the next 12 months.
All graduates will work alongside our respected staff to deliver critical in-the-paddock support and services to customers across regional NSW.
In Riverina, we welcome 3 graduates – Ashleigh Halligan to our vet team, Kate Jenkins to our NRM team, and Luella Champ to our agriculture team. All 3 will be based out of our Wagga office.
Our graduate program is an investment in the next generation of frontline staff providing an ongoing learning opportunity and support as they transition from university studies to an established career.
The next intake of Local Land Services graduates will be happening mid-2023.
Expressions of interest now open for Reconnecting River Country Program reference group
We are seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from landholders and First Nations people across southern NSW to join a Reconnecting River Country Program reference group.
The purpose of the reference groups is to support transparent, equitable, fair and consistent engagement about the program. The role of reference group members is to:
represent the views and interests of the program’s most affected stakeholders
represent the views and interests of their declared stakeholder networks
provide feedback and advice on key elements of the program
road test selected program information and communication products with their declared stakeholder networks
act as a conduit for sharing approved program information with their declared stakeholder networks.
Reference group members will be required to meet with the program team at least twice in 2023 to consider key program components and to identify issues and opportunities within the scope of the program. The reference groups will operate until 29 October 2023.
Local Land Services is supporting the Department of Planning and Environment’s Water Infrastructure NSW team to deliver the Reconnecting River Country Program.
We want to hear what you think about the rules for managing native vegetation in NSW
Local Land Services is supporting the statutory review of the native vegetation provisions of the Local Land Services Act and we need to hear from you.
The review will consider if the policy objectives of these provisions remain valid, if the provisions are working to achieve the objectives of the Act, and if any areas need to be improved.
In addition to the public submissions we sought on the Discussion Paper in 2022, we are also carrying out voluntary landholder surveys and interviews over coming weeks to gather your valuable insights and feedback.
To participate, please register your interest by filling out the online form.
The Weeds Action Program (WAP) for the Riverina was re-written to properly identify goals and targets which used standardised metrics and commonality for measurement. In addition, the operational budgets of the participants were reviewed in line with WAP targets and funding allocations.
This effectively reduced the WAP matrix into 14 reportable strategic regional actions that are now fully accountable, auditable and reportable with metrics that are standardised and consistent.
The new program has been in operation for 6 months and has been positively received by both biosecurity officers and participant managers and budget managers. WAP state augmentation funding received in late September 2022 was dispersed to the participants in early October.
Weed to watch | St John’s Wort
This plant is a perennial (long lived) plant and is one of the main reasons for calls of complaint in late 2022-early 2023.
Many are aware of the high productive capability of St John's Wort, each plant can produce between 15,000 – 30,000 seeds. You may not be aware that the buried seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 20 years.
This season’s weather has been almost perfect for the germination of deeper and dormant soil seed and is the primary reason why wort is so prolific this year.
While it may seem counter-intuitive to be discussing fire season preparedness at the same time as flood recovery, many regions will face an increased risk of grass and bush fires this summer because of flooding and recent rain.
Grass and bush fire fuel loads are expected to be higher this fire season following a wet spring which resulted in increased grass growth throughout much of the state. As plants dry off with warmer weather, they provide a significant fuel load for grass fires.
Flood debris, often consisting of dried out vegetation, can be particularly flammable and can draw fires to and along structures where it may be built up against, such as fences.
It's important you check your property and start preparing for the fire season now.
The Bringing Back the Bunyip Bird: Australasian Bittern Summit 2023 is a unique opportunity to connect with scientists, conservationists, wetland managers, birdwatchers and farmers who share a passion for the iconic Australasian Bittern. More info
Local Land Services board appointments
Ministerial board appointments
Next month Riverina Local Land Services welcomes the appointment of Lisa Anderson and Elizabeth Lyne to our local board.
Our regional board plays a key role in connecting communities to our services. Board members bring local views and experience to the table to help guide the strategic future of Local Land Services, helping to improve sustainable land and natural resource management for our customers and the environment.
With these appointments we want to recognise the expertise, knowledge and support our outgoing board members, Elke Cleverdon and Diana Gibbs, have shared during their tenure. Their assistance has helped shape Local Land Services strategic outcomes over a difficult period impacted by several natural disasters and challenges of COVID.
In total, 22 people have been appointed across the state by the Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Dugald Saunders. Diversity is important for all organisations and it is pleasing to see these new appointments include female and indigenous community members, building on our already inclusive regional representation.
More than 160 people applied to join boards across the state after an extensive recruitment process.
NSW Government caretaker period starts on 3 March 2023
During caretaker period the usual business of Local Land Services continues: your local vets, ag advisors, biosecurity teams and pasture specialists will continue delivering services to farmers, landholders and the wider community. However, we will not send email newsletters or other communications, including routine social media or website updates, during the caretaker period.
Emergency or public health and safety information will be sent by email and published online as normal, and our regular communications will resume after the election.
Local Land Services acknowledges that it stands on Country
which always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters,
and we show our respect for Elders past, present and emerging.
Our mailing address is:
200 Murray Road · Hanwood, NSW 2680 · Australia
The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing. 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 Local Land Services or the user’s independent adviser. For updates go to www.lls.nsw.gov.au
