RLPBs move forward on reform issues

The State Council of Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs) is acting swiftly to ensure a number of reform issues will be discussed further as it moves to modernise and streamline the RLPB system.

Chairman David Lister said new Board boundaries, the future of Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) and cattle tick management required further consideration.

“At the recent annual RLPB conference in Coffs Harbour, delegates endorsed in principle the recommendations of the IMC External Review including consolidating the number of Boards from 47 to 14.

“However further discussion and consultation with Boards and the Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, is required before firm decisions can be made on how to proceed with some of the changes,” David Lister said.

As the first step in the implementation process, State Council has sought input from local Boards on new external boundaries.

“Some of the boundaries proposed by IMC are of concern to the community and we recognise that they require some fine-tuning,” David Lister said.

“The report also recommends major changes to the management of TSRs however these will not be considered until mid 2009.

“In recent years the conservation and recreational significance of TSRs has become more widely recognised but it’s not reasonable and fair to expect RLPB ratepayers to continue the sole burden of funding them when they have a broader public benefit.

“We appreciate this is not just an issue of simple economics and any decision regarding TSRs needs to be extremely well considered and take into account different areas, their importance and use,” David Lister said.

For those TSRs which are ceded back to the Department of Lands, new Boards will be given the opportunity to negotiate access arrangements for future agistment purposes and emergencies such as drought and flood.

David Lister said there were also some questions raised about the management of cattle tick programs being transferred from the Department of Primary Industries to RLPBs.

“State Council would like to investigate this proposal further to ensure that there is sufficient funding and resources available to take on this role,” he said.

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