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
Animal health
Keep an eye out for pinkeye in livestock
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.
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.
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.
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.
Green cestrum is a vigorous plant that can out-compete other vegetation. Green cestrum is toxic to animals including cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, poultry and humans.
Green cestrum seeds germinate mainly in autumn with young plants taking two or more years to flower and set seed. Mature plants will flower and seed each year. Seeds from these plants can remain dormant in the soil for many years.
It is spread most commonly in droppings from birds that have eaten the berries. Green cestrum is a common weed on vacant allotments, roadsides, river and creek banks or riparian areas.
The characteristics of green cestrum are:
erect, perennial shrub up to 3 m high
leaves are alternate, up to 12 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, and have an unpleasant odour when crushed
greenish-yellow flowers grow in clusters at the ends of branches are trumpet shaped and up to 2.5 cm long
flowers produce an unpleasant perfume during the day but can smell quite sweet in the evening
clusters of shiny, black, egg-shaped berries 7-10 mm long are produced during summer and autumn.
Major projects and programs
Join your small farms and lifestyle block owners network
Are you running a few head of livestock on your small farm? Are you caring for the environment on your lifestyle block? Have you heard the word ‘biosecurity’ and don’t know what it means or how it applies to you?
If you’ve answered yes to the above, then you need to join the small farms and lifestyle block owners network.
The network is for people in the North West and will offer the latest advice, information and updates tailored to your needs and the local community.
Get the early word on upcoming events, opportunities and more when you join the network. We at Local Land Services look forward to supporting you whether you’re running a commercial operation and want to increase your primary production, want to make the most of your lifestyle block or simply have some general questions that need answers.
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.
Pasture and weed identification workshop fully booked
Thanks to everyone who has registered to attend our pasture and weed identification workshop on Saturday 4 February.
This event became fully booked in mid-January, with a number of people reserving a spot on a wait list.
We are planning further pasture and weed identification workshops. If you wish to be notified of when these are occurring, please contact Margo Weekes via margo.weekes@lls.nsw.gov.au or 0408 882 321.
Travelling stock reserves
Thinking of replacing an existing fence that borders a travelling stock reserve?
Whether cultivating, sowing or putting up a new fence, 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 North West 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 call your local office or 1300 795 299 and ask to speak with one of our TRS rangers, who can help arrange the process.
Natural resource management
Kamilaroi Guda Koala Project
The Kamilaroi Guda Koala Project achieved lots in 2022 and the project is on track for completion in June 2023.
It will be a busy start to the year with fencing, tree planting, weed control, installing a wildlife drinker and restoring habitat on the Namoi River. We will be hoping for some clear skies to ensure the work is complete.
We have launched a new video to support the works undertaken in the Kamilaroi Guda Koalas project called ‘Where have the Liverpool Plains Koalas gone?’ The video discusses the causes of the Gunnedah district koala population collapse.
Stringybark Ecological is working with North West Local Land Services to investigate the genetics of stands of Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) throughout the region. In partnership with Dr Rose Andrew from the University of New England, Stringybark Ecological are collecting leaf samples from isolated, fragmented and remnant stands of Brigalow, to ascertain if the structure of the stand is preventing regeneration from seeds.
Some of these clumps are not regenerating and it may be that they are suckers of the same plant or have very limited genetic diversity. The project will indicate if introducing new genetic material from other stands might help the long-term survival of these stands.
Danielle Andersson from Stringybark Ecological and student Laura from UNE collected leaf samples from nine populations between Werris Creek and Boggabilla in November 2022. Leaf analysis will be undertaken by a specialist laboratory and a report produced for NWLLS to consider this year.
The project is concurrent with a University of Sydney project looking at Brigalow stands in the region and a Royal Botanic Gardens project looking at seed collection guidelines for Brigalow. The information produced by these three projects, working cooperatively, will help ensure the survival of the Endangered Ecological Community.
Emergency management
Flood recovery updates
Local Land Services provides leadership in flood recovery support and advice to impacted landholders. This includes:
Veterinary advice and assistance
Livestock feeding and management advice
Pasture, cropping and horticulture recovery advice
Plant and animal biosecurity surveillance and advice
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.
North West Local Land Services welcomes the appointment of Stephanie Cameron and Jacqueline Gidley-Baird 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, Rebecca Reardon and Russell Webb, 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:
PO Box 500 · Tamworth, NSW 2340 · 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
Stringybark Ecological is working with North West Local Land Services to investigate the genetics of stands of Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) throughout the region. In partnership with Dr Rose Andrew from the University of New England, Stringybark Ecological are collecting leaf samples from isolated, fragmented and remnant stands of Brigalow, to ascertain if the structure of the stand is preventing regeneration from seeds.
