Review recommendations set the future for RLPBs

The State Council of Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs) has welcomed the findings of the external review of the RLPB system conducted by independent consulting firm Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC).

The final report released today proposes significant changes to better protect the state’s agricultural industries against pest and animal health risks.

Chairman David Lister said the IMC report advocates major structural reform to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of services by centralising administrative functions, reducing the number of Boards and appointing independent directors with specific skills.

“The recommendations will see vets and rangers spending more time in the field and estimated savings of $8.3 million per year.

“However the reduction in Board numbers will not compromise local service delivery.

“The current number of offices will remain, ensuring that our local knowledge, experience and responsiveness is retained.

“The system will continue to provide for local producers to be elected to their Boards and have grassroots input but at a more appropriate level of representation,” David Lister said.

The major recommendations outlined in the report include:

• The core business of the RLPB system going forward is animal health and pest animal and insect management, operating within the national biosecurity framework.
• The number of Boards is reduced from 47 to 14 across the state.
• Each new Board will have eight directors, six elected by ratepayers and two appointed who would offer skills such as accounting, law or commerce complementary to the role of the Boards.
• The 14 regional Boards will be managed locally and overseen by a nine member State Board of Management.
• General policy and strategic directions will be set by a new State Policy Council consisting of 28 members; two from each regional board.
• The new system will include a State CEO and secretariat to service the operational requirements of the State Board of Management including centralised administration, payroll and reporting functions.
• The management of Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) will be ceded back to the NSW Department of Lands in cases where they place an unreasonable financial burden on Boards.
• The new RLPB network should take over the current Department of Primary Industries (DPI) program to manage and eradicate cattle ticks.

Boards will play a major advisory and educational role in the community on a range of rural issues and continue to help during natural disasters including droughts, floods, storms and bushfires.

The review also provides scope for the organisation to pursue a number of business development opportunities to complement its core activities and increase its relevance to smaller landholders.

David Lister said there was a broad and strong consensus for change with 67 submissions received from stakeholders including the NSW Farmers Association and NSW Department of Lands, Boards, directors, staff associations and individual staff members.

“More than 80% advocated change to the current system and identified the organisation’s ability to rapidly deploy animal health staff across the state to handle emergency animal disease outbreaks as one of its great strengths.

“The IMC report provides a comprehensive plan to build on these strengths, increase our field presence and put downward pressure on the need for future rate increases.

“The review has made some tough decisions and we acknowledge not everyone will support the changes. In order to secure a sustainable long-term future in changing times, we must accept the need to implement significant structural and administrative reform and focus more keenly on delivering our core functions.

“The IMC report provides that opportunity and State Council is confident that it will position the organisation well not just for the next 12 months but for the next 10 years,” David Lister said.

The 14 new Boards have been drawn considering current Board boundaries, reasonable travelling distances and common agricultural production.

The report will be sent to the Minister for Primary Industries for his consideration.

Further details, maps of the new Board boundaries and the full version of the IMC external review report are available at www.rlpb.org.au

MEDIA CONTACT: Kelly Ingham (02) 6391 3242 Mob 0428 465 378