Call for producers to be LLS directors

At the time of publication, 128 people had nominated, however, there was an uneven spread, with the regions of Greater Sydney, Murray and Riverina still needing more, an LLS spokeswoman said.

“Murray spreads from alpine areas to the border of the Western region...(and) Riverina has a great diversity of interests,” she said.

“Greater Sydney has its own specific issues – it would be good for each of these regions to have as many nominees as possible to make sure all interests are covered.

“In every other region, there are strong numbers.”

The board of directors will be made up of both elected members from the nominees of each region, along with directors already appointed by the NSW government, and the election for the new directors will be on March 14.

The LLS is a new organisation, launched this year to take over from the Catchment Management Authorities, the Livestock Health and Pest Authorities and the agricultural advisory services of the Department of Primary Industries.

It is designed to be a one-stop-shop for agricultural production advice, biosecurity, natural resource management and emergency management.

Earlier this month, chair of the LLS board of chairs John Macarthur-Stanham said it was vital that producers and farmers nominated for positions on the regional boards.

“We need good farmers with good experience for a proper balance on the board of directors,” Mr Macarthur-Stanham said.

There has been criticism of the structure for the elected directors, with nominees not required to be ratepayers of the LLS region in which they are nominated.

Mr Macarthur-Stanham confirmed this was the case, but said even if they were not LLS ratepayers, nominees had to have their primary place of residence within their LLS region for their nomination to be valid.

“It is about getting the best person for the job – maybe an ex-mayor or someone like that who lives in town and really knows the area, but isn’t on a property (paying LLS rates) would like to nominate. If so they should be able to.”

An LLS spokeswoman confirmed many of the nominations received so far came from people on the land, but a full breakdown of the locations of the nominees was unavailable.

“There are a lot of people from properties on the land putting their hand up for the elections,” the spokeswoman said.

NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson agreed landholders were needed on the LLS board of directors.

“We encourage all landholders to apply to be on the electoral roll as it is through your participation in the election process that you can influence the future of the LLS.

“If you have questions contact your new LLS office which is your old LHPA office,” she said.

To nominate before tomorrow’s deadline go to lls.nsw.gov.au