landholders urged to attend Local Land Services workshop

5 April, 2013Posted in: Environment, Events
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Wingecarribee Shire Council is calling on interested landholders to have their say on the NSW Government’s planned formation of Local Land Services, and attend the public consultation workshop on Tuesday 9 April at the Moss Vale Services Club.

The workshop, organised by the NSW Government Department of Primary Industries, is one of 21 interactive workshops being held across the state, and is the public’s chance to voice their views on the the formation of Local Land Services including proposed regional boundaries, governance structures, and services required.

The formation of Local Land Services will see the integration of agricultural industry advice, biosecurity and natural resource management functions, and bring together Livestock Health and Pest Authorities, Catchment Management Authorities, and Agriculture NSW advisory services. Local Land Services will be regionally-based, semi-autonomous statutory organisations governed by locally elected and skills-based Board members.

Wingecarribee Shire Council has heard some of the concerns being raised by the community, and formed a Local Stakeholder Group to better understand these issues and prepare a submission towards the NSW Government’s consultation process. This group brought together diverse views and opinions from local representatives of the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority, Landcare, NSW Farmers Association, Livestock Health and Pest Authority, Department of Primary Industries, Greening Australia and the Sydney Catchment Authority. Councillor Larry Whipper, Chair of the Local Stakeholder Group encouraged all local land holders to attend the workshop.

“Our group is concerned about a number of issues, most notably the proposed Local Land Services boundary recommendations,” Councillor Whipper said.

“We believe that our Shire contains many unique attributes, including our significant water catchment and agricultural areas, and we are wary of any change that may rob us of our identity, jeopardise existing local knowledge, networks and communication,” Councillor Whipper said.

“The last thing we want is for local services to be adversely impacted.”

The Moss Vale Local Land Services workshop will be hosted by Dr John Keniry AM, NSW Natural Resources Commissioner and facilitated by Mick Keogh, Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute.

The workshop will be held at the Moss Vale Services Club, at the corner of Argyle and Yarrawa Streets, Moss Vale on Tuesday 9 April from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

For more information visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/have-your-say.