THE jury’s still out about the new Local Land Services (LLS) organisation’s effectiveness in serving farmers across the Bathurst region.
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LLS came online in January this year in a move by the state government to streamline its rural delivery operations.
It has replaced catchment management authorities, livestock health and pest authorities and advisory services provided by Agriculture NSW.
LLS are touted as being regionally-based, semi-autonomous bodies governed by a skills-based board, delivering services for farmers, landowners and communities.
According to the president of the Bathurst branch of the NSW Farmers’ Association Ian Hendry, it is still too early to say if LLS is a success story.
However, he says there are concerns from farmers that there should be a more democratic process in the way board members are elected.
“We don’t mind having government appointees, but we feel the farming community should have more of a say, because at present the balance of board members is in favour of the government,” Mr Hendry said.
“This very issue was discussed at last week’s NSW Farmers’ conference in Sydney and a motion passed to this effect.”
Mr Hendry said a positive is that LLS rates have been issued and they haven’t changed from those sent out by the previous LHPA.
“But, overall, people are non-committal on the change. It’s early days yet. They are adopting a wait-and-see attitude,” he said.
“Another good thing is that it seems that we are starting to get key people back in the field, such as agronomists, livestock officers and vets.
“Even though district vet Bruce Watt’s role has changed with the advent of LLS, it would be a shame to lose his wealth of knowledge. A lot of farmers really miss his weekly column in the Western Advocate. It was regarded as something of a Bible here.”