It’s taken three months longer than expected, but from October 1, the Soil Conservation Service will be formally merged with Local Land Services (LLS) in a bold new era for the 70-year-old service.
The NSW Government has promised no Soil Con offices will be closed or staff lost (adding that plans were underway to employ six extra staff), but in some towns LLS and Soil Con offices will be merged.
Soil Con will have its own independence within LLS, but will be “aligned and report to LLS”.
The government has also promised the business model will not change, and there is no plan to move 'towards a more profit motive'.
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair made the merger decision after recommendations from a steering committee. A July announcement was delayed until this week.
Mr Blair said the transfer would have no impact on the continuity of services for both organisations.
“The business case recommending the move confirmed a natural fit for the services delivered by the two agencies,” Mr Blair said.
“I expect to see improved efficiencies and a shared focus on practical natural resource management projects that will benefit customers in regional NSW.
“This could also be a chance to co-locate offices in some regional centres and to create opportunities for better information exchange among customers and staff.”
General manager of the Soil Conservation Service, Tim Ferraro, said the “transfer fits well with the on-ground customer presence LLS has across 11 regions”.
“Both organisations work in slightly different ways, but have a common set of customers, which offers up a great opportunity to learn from each other,” he said.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
