THE State government is looking to give more ownership to landholders in Western NSW, but has been warned to keep the cost of converting to freehold down.
Under the Crown Land Legislation White Paper, landowners can have their say on the issue of making it easier to convert from leasehold to freehold for the 6500 Western Lands leases, which represents about 30 million hectares.
“Crown land issues have been huge and ongoing across the electorate, particularly in the case of those with farming capabilities wishing to convert their Western Lands Leases into freehold,” said Barwon MP Kevin Humphries.
“Now is the time for these landholders to have their say,” Mr Humphries said.
Chairman of NSW Farmers Western Division Council, Wayne Newton, said he didn’t think many landholders would take up the option to convert, unless the price was right.
“There are some positives, such as the perception for investors that freehold gives better security... (but) the biggest problem would be the cost of conversion,” Mr Newton said.
“At the moment, I think most people would stay with their leaseholds... but if there was a very small fee and similar conditions on the title, most would probably convert.”
Mr Humphries said the government’s response to the Crown Lands Management Review would include slashing the amount of legislation stifling Crown land management by repealing eight pieces of outdated and overlapping legislation and introducing a new single Act.
“With legislation dating as far
back as 1890, now is the time to introduce clearer, simpler and more contemporary legislation to better manage Crown land,” Mr Humphries said.
He said there would be a section specifically on Western Lands.
“Landholders (in the Western Division) are restricted in what they can do, and if parts of the State are able to be freehold it would certainly give such landholders more opportunity to freely engage in anything from tourism activity to farming,” Mr Humphries said.
“What we want to know is where the opportunities are, many we already know such as the County of Finch in the north of the State, which would be perfect for farming.
“Currently landholders in this county are restricted to farming permits.”
Mr Newton said this could be a “slight advantage” for landholders wishing to farm instead of graze in the County of Finch (around Walgett and Brewarrina), but said it would all depend on the wording
of any conditions attached to changing the title from leasehold to freehold.
“The devil will be in the detail,” he said.
Mr Humphries encouraged landholders to read the full Crown Lands Management Review and take the opportunity to let the government know their views.
Click here to see the review.
Submissions will be accepted until June 20.