Threat to local Landcare across North Coast region

Local Landcare Network offices across the North Coast of New South Wales may not be here after June this year, unless there is some continuity of state government funding.

 

The NSW State Government announced major reforms to services for rural landholders late last year and these will have significant impacts on the local Landcare support organisation in towns throughout the region and the Landcare movement across the state.

 

North Coast Regional Landcare Network, Chair Neville Sloss explains:

 

"The reforms will mean that all our member networks' main avenue of funding —the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority— will disappear.  At this stage we understand that there will be no continuation of funding for our community support activities into the next financial year which seriously threatens our continued existence."

 

"It will mean no Landcare offices, no help for landholders looking for project funding, no natural resource management workshops and field days, no support for Landcare projects and the loss of a host of farming and habitat management information services."

 

The Government plans for new organisations called 'Local Land Services'  (LLS) to administer the merged services currently provided by the CMA, Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPAs) and parts of NSWDPI from January 2014.

 

"A reference panel is overseeing the set up and structure of the new organisation and it is heartening that the NSW State body Landcare NSW is part of this process at the State level, but there are serious challenges ahead for all our 14 local member organisations, especially in the coming transition period whilst the LLS is being set up," Mr Sloss said.

 

The Landcare offices with Community Support Officers are in Tweed Heads, Mullumbimby, Old Bonalbo, Kyogle, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Wollongbar, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca Heads, Wauchope, Kempsey, and Armidale.

 

"Over the years Landcare funding has had a number of crises but none seem to be as clear and present as this one.  We will be making representations to our politicians and the relevant ministers in the coming months and asking the community for their support."

 

North Coast Regional Landcare Network believes:

 

 Local community based groups need certainty and continued funding to employ Landcare staff  to support their catchment's landholders from 1 July 2013 during the transition to the new LLS structure

 Ongoing financial support for the Landcare  community  must  be part of the LLS structure and this is best delivered by local community networks

 

"We also hope anyone who cares about Landcare's future will attend a LLS reference panel community consultation session.

 

Lismore: March 18 1-4 pm, Invercauld House, 161 Invercauld Road, Goonellabah

Coffs Harbour: March 19 9 am-12 pm, Ex-Services club, cnr Pacific Hwy & Vernon St

Scone: April 8 9 am-12 pm, Scone RSL, 71 Guernsey St.

 

Community Support Officer

Clarence Landcare Inc

24 January 2013