Your local Landcare Network office has been operating in Tenterfield since 1996, but according to Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc. Chair Clive Smith, it may not be here after June, 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 Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc. and the Landcare movement across the state.
“The reforms will mean that Granite Borders Landcare Committee’s main avenue of funding the Northern Rivers and Border Rivers – Gwydir Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) will disappear,” Mr Smith said.
“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 office, 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 CMAs, Livestock Health & Pest Authorities (LHPAs) and parts of NSW DPI 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 local organisations like Granite Borders Landcare, especially in the coming transition period whilst the LLS is being set up,” Mr Smith said.
“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 ask you, our community, for your support. You can do this by writing or emailing the Minister for Primary Industries and your local MPs.”
The two main points are:
• 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
Apart from the Landcare office in our community, others under threat include in Tweed Heads, Mullumbimby, Old Bonalbo, Kyogle, Glen Innes, Wollongbar, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca Heads, Wauchope, Kempsey, Inverell, Bingara and Armidale.
“We also hope you will attend a LLS reference panel community consultation session and ask how the new LLS arrangements will support Landcare and affect you as a rural landholder.
February 26 9-12 pm Moree, Moree RSL, 3 Albert St February 26 3.30-6.30 p Glen Innes, Glen Innes & District Services Club, 120 Grey St February 27 2-5 pm Gunnedah, Gunnedah Services Club, 313 Conadilly St. For more information on how you can help, contact Elizabeth Melling at the Granite Borders Landcare office on 0267 363 500 or 041 123 1513.
