Nats faithful don’t want to charge blockies for LLS

Cowra branch delegate Ruth Fagan said a lingering perception that ratepayer body LLS was not up to its brief could be alleviated if government followed a 2014 IPART recommendation to make landholders over two hectares contribute.

The rateable area for LLS is 10ha in coastal and tablelands area, 40ha in the Western Region, and 20ha in some parts of Murray and Riverina Regions. Rates make up less than one third of LLS funding.

Mrs Fagan said many smaller blocks, which she suggested numbered more than 130,000, still benefitted from LLS services despite not paying up.

“Landholders around urban areas, some of which have issues with animals and biosecurity, should be paying to help manage this,” she said.

Other delegates warned that the motion opened up the potential for inner city residents to have a vote in LLS elections and that the organisation could become rigged by ‘blockies’ over large landholders.

John Elliott from Broken Hill urged austerity.

“Perhaps the LLS should be more like the westerners: get rid of some of their costs, get rid of some of their staff, and stay within their budgets,” he said.

John Lowe of the Lithgow Branch - who is also on the LLS Central Tablelands board - backed Mrs Fagan.

“(Smaller blocks) are a real risk, and we’re trying to get them to buy in (and) to understand that what they do affects all of us, and how we deal with the costs and services to the regions,” he said.

Max Swift from Forbes spoke against the motion and said the costs involved in collecting the rates won’t be worth it.

Conference voted the motion down.

Other rural debates included a successful motion urging federal government to build more major storage dams as soon as possible.

That motion was moved by Sandy Walker, Mudgee branch.

“The treasurer calls this good debt, and I agree with him. This is a project for 100 years,” Mr Walker said.

“This will create decentralisation, create jobs, open up inland NSW, it will save western towns.

“A lot of this country’s got a good climate, good soils, and if you put water there the rest will follow.”

The motion was carried.