It’s been just over one year since the Livestock Health and Pest Authority, the Catchment Management Authority and Primary Industry extension services were amalgamated to form Local Land Services.
While the change was not generally well received by farming communities, the Narrabri Branch of the North West LLS appears to be finding its feet.
It hasn’t been an easy transition though.
Not only did the amalgamation require a complete reshuffle of board representatives and staff, the newly formed government service also suffered a 30% funding cut within the first 12 months.
Narrabri LLS General Manager Ken Flower believes the local branch has done an exceptional job considering it basically started from scratch.
“It was a big call to join the three organisations together, but we have started to create a good delivery system,” he said.
“When we started we had virtually no livestock officers and we were down to two vets, since then we’ve built up to five vets and we’ve got two livestock officers so that’s an
advantage and we’ve been able to provide a better service to people.”
The drought currently gripping much of the north west has kept the newly formed LLS extremely busy over the last 12 months.
Fortunately LLS has been able to assist in situations where animal welfare has become an issue.
“We’ve dealt with sicknesses and diseases in cattle and sheep,” Mr Flower said.
“Because feed is so scarce, when they get put in a good paddock the change in feed causes problems so we’ve helped with a lot of those issues.
“We also had a couple of mobs of cows that were under significant stress in the middle of last year and we were able to give advice and get food in and get them to walk through to where they would be okay.
“I got a very nice email from one of the drovers we assisted, he sent me a picture of his cattle which are now down south and doing well.”
While the drought has been the single biggest issue, wild dogs are an increasing concern.
Wild dogs prey on young or weak livestock, costing producers thousands in stock losses, and the pests are spreading further into the North West LLS area.
“We are actually getting them coming in from QLD, we’ve got to be smarter about it and coordinate an effort, its got to be a sub-regional approach, then we can give assistance,” he said.
“We were successful in getting a $388,000 grant from the federal government to do feral animal control, most of it is going on the pigs but some is going on wild dogs, we do have a shoot organised for late in February.”
With staff reductions from 84 to 76 across the North West LLS area, due to both the amalgamation and budget cuts, the organisation has been forced to find efficiencies.
Mr Flower explains how they’ve had to focus on the most strategic and cost effective management tools.
“We used to have staff going out and trapping wild dogs, but the science tells us we can kill a lot more dogs per dollar with bait rather than trapping,” he said, admitting that it had been a difficult transition for land owners who did previously have staff trapping dogs.
Over the next 12 months, the North West LLS will review landholder rate payments and form a Community Advisory Group to provide feedback on services.
An Aboriginal Advisory Group will also be formed to ensure LLS engages with land councils in the area.
Ken Flower’s main goal is to build awareness around the functions of the LLS, and eliminate any confusion landholders may be experiencing as a result of the amalgamation.
“A lot of people still think of us as the LHPA, the Catchment Authority or Primary Industry Extension, so we need to firm up our brand of LLS and make it clear that we integrate all of these things,” he said.
“One of the confusions has been that in the past LHPA have basically charged for services, but we’re also implementing long term strategies for land management and distributing a lot of grants, and performing the regulatory function as well.”
The North West LLS includes Narrabri, Moree, Walgett, Gunnedah and Tamworth.