![Cooma Monaro shire mayor, Dean Lynch, Cooma Cooma Monaro shire mayor, Dean Lynch, Cooma](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/2074466.jpg/r0_0_1024_1536_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
PROPERTIES bigger than one hectare would be inspected for weeds at least once every five years, if a proposed weeds review is adopted by the NSW government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
And local governments would shoulder the responsibility of enforcing the changes.
According to the draft Natural Resource Commission's review of weed management in NSW, a final version of which is scheduled for this week, hobby blocks, Crown land and stations alike should be issued with a "weed status certificate".
Natural Resource Commissioner John Keniry said local governments should continue to be the front line of weed control.
"But if they don't do it properly there would be the faculty for (Local Land Services) to take it over," he said.
Through the weed review's final submission process, which closed last month, Dr Keniry said local government was concerned that if it had to increase the scope of weed certificates, there would be a significant increase in inspections and therefore cost to councils.
"Our position is that the local government areas collect the rates (and have) statutory responsibility to do the work. If they say they can't do that, maybe need to look at their priorities," Dr Keniry said.
The plan has rattled Cooma Monaro Shire mayor Dean Lynch (pictured), who said it was another sign of local government becoming a debt collector for State government.
"I've personally raised this with our Local Land Services (LLS) manager and with Minister Hodgkinson and said it's not fair local government gets another burden.
"There will be massive backlash from those people who have never paid LLS rates before.
"There are places round here that are a snake to the acre and they don't want to know about LLS. When I get a heap of phone calls, I'll be putting them onto the minister."
Dr Keniry stressed the Natural Resources Commission was an advisory body to the government.
"Everything in our report the government has to make the decision on," he said.