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Your monthly update on programs, projects, seasonal advice and more in the Western region

Landholders encouraged to remain on alert for flooding throughout the region


Western LLS is continuing to work with landholders and stakeholders throughout the region to provide advice and coordinate response efforts with regards to ongoing flooding throughout the region. With many instances of minor to moderate flooding occurring, and with the ongoing forecasts for more wet and cold weather, the current flood warning and conditions are expected to continue for some time. 

Landholders that have river frontage or are susceptible to flooding are encouraged to take precautionary action and move their stock and farming equipment to higher ground or away from river frontage. Landholders that need advice with evacuation or assistance with emergency care of livestock and companion animals during the floods can contact Western LLS on 1300 795 299 or visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au/floods. 

Final reminder for wild dog trapping school and information sessions


We are just over a week out from a number of our wild dog events with the well-known Stuart Boyd-Law from Pest Animal Control and Training, presenting at all events.

Trapping school

This event is suitable for landholders who are familiar with wild dogs and wild dog control and are looking to get the latest education and information. 

Where and when: Churinga Station, Topar  |  14-16 June
Cost: $280. This includes a wild dog trap kit for you to take home. Overall the trapping school offers more than $350 in value per participant.
RSVP: to Brooke Anderson on brooke.anderson@lls.nsw.gov.au or 0436 475 814. Please advise of dietary requirements and if you require accommodation when you RSVP.

Information sessions 

These sessions are ideal for landholders looking to refresh their skills, new landholders in the region and landholders looking to gain knowledge and experience with wild dogs and wild dog control. 
  • Kelleen Station, Pooncarie  |  Friday, 17 June
  • Hatfield Hall, Balranald  |  Saturday, 18 June
  • Community Hall, Mt Hope  |  Sunday, 19 June
All sessions run from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, are catered and free to attend. Please RSVP to your local biosecurity officer or Brooke Anderson as per contact details above.
Trapping is a great tool in the toolbox for landholders looking to control wild dogs on their property and in their local area. Check out this two minute video on wild dog trapping.

Sheep production workshop locked in for White Cliffs


Livestock producers are encouraged to attend an upcoming sheep production workshop which will cover the sheep reproductive cycle and look at methods to optimise reproductive rates in pastoral sheep flocks. Some of the key topics for the workshop include: 
  • the who, what, when and where of sheep reproduction
  • the value of scanning
  • ewe management prior to and during lambing
  • breeding more resilient sheep
  • condition scoring and general nutrition. 
When and where: Tuesday 14 June, 9 am - 3 pm  |  Polpah Station, White Cliffs  

Contact Claudia to RSVP for catering purposes on 0448 796 109 or claudia.bryant@lls.nsw.gov.au. This event is presented by the Farm Business Resilience Program which is jointly funded through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and the NSW DPI. 

New date for sharing traditional knowledge workshop at Menindee


Community members in the Menindee region are invited to attend this free workshop which aims to encourage the sharing of cultural knowledge between community members of all ages and our staff. 

When and where: Thursday 16 June, 9 am - 4 pm  |  Kinchega National Park, Menindee 

The workshop will cover: 
  • an introduction and overview on site identification and recording in AHIMS
  • a field trip including cultural site visits (transport provided)
  • a relaxed, inclusive environment to facilitate shared storytelling and an opportunity to ask questions. 
Contact Aboriginal Community Officer, Josh Clarke for catering purposes on 0499 537 311 or josh.clarke@lls.nsw.gov.au. BYO hat, comfortable shoes and a water bottle.
Sharing traditional knowledge is an important part of life for the Aboriginal community. Have a look at this four minute video from a recent sharing traditional knowledge
workshop in Hillston.

Grazing naturally workshops x 3 toward the end of June


Western LLS is running three grazing naturally workshops across the region over three days at the end of June.
  • Monday 27 June, 10 am - 3 pm  |  Top Hut Station, Willandra 
  • Tuesday 28 June, 9 am - 3 pm  |  Booberoi Station, Euabalong 
  • Wednesday 29 June, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm  |  Tiltagoona Station, near Wilcannia 
All events will offer insights into grazing management strategies that will help to increase production, improve the property's natural resource base, provide greater biodiversity and enhance the resilience of the property to future droughts. Dick Richardson from Natures Equity will present at all three events. 

Click here for further information on these events and to RSVP for catering purposes.

Annual Land and Stock Returns — they're counting on you! 


Your Annual Land and Stock Return (ALSR) will soon arrive in your letterbox and we need you to complete it by 31 August 2022. Annual returns are essentially a 'farm census' of the livestock on your property on 30 June each year. It provides us with important information on land use and livestock numbers across the state. 

With biosecurity threats like Foot and Mouth disease on Australia's doorstep, we need to work together to safeguard NSW and keep our markets open for producers. Completing your ALSR means when disease strikes or emergencies occur, we understand how many animals in your area  need our help, such as providing a safe place to go, or emergency fodder and water supplies. 

Many landholders don't have any livestock and utilise their property for horticulture and cropping, or enjoy their property for its biodiversity and lifestyle value. We still need you to complete your ALSR to ensure you do not occur additional livestock charges on your rates and to make certain our records are up to date in case of emergencies. 

The secure online portal will open on 30 June so you can lodge online via www.lls.nsw.gov.au/alsr. You must complete your ALSR by 31 August 2022 to avoid additional charged being applied to your 2023 LLS rates.

Changes to pricing of Ovine Brucellosis testing coming from 1 July 


As many landholders are aware, Western LLS currently provides Ovine Brucellosis (OB) testing to ratepayers in the Western LLS region. What landholders might not be aware of is that this service has been offered at a subsidised rate due to the limited availability of private veterinarians to offer this service. 

With more private veterinarians now able to offer landholders OB testing in the Western LLS region, we will now be charging a new rate in line with the fee charged by private veterinarians. By doing this, we are ensuring there is no competitive advantage to Western LLS, whilst creating a fair market environment for the establishment and growth of private veterinary providers.   

The new rate of $24.20 per ram is effective from 1 July 2022. 

The current procedure for OB testing remains as is, with fertility investigation by a Western LLS district vet free, with charges then applying for routine OB testing. For further information about the OB testing, please contact your local district veterinarian as per the below details, otherwise you can contact Western LLS on 1300 795 299.

Still time to participate in disease surveillance program 

Thanks to all the landholders that have put their hand up to participate in our disease surveillance program. For those that are yet to and wish to be involved, there is still time to register your interest, which you can do by contacting a Western LLS district vet. 

Round 2 of the Fencing Northern Basin Riverbanks Program opening soon


Landholders with frontage to waterways in the NSW northern Murray-Darling Basin are encouraged to keep an eye out for the opening of Expressions of Interest under round 2 of the NSW Fencing Northern Basin Riverbanks Program. 

The program offers incentive grants to landholders to protect sensitive riparian zones through stockproof fencing, alternate water points and a range of complementary measures with the aim of improving native fish populations and water quality. 

Further information about the program, including a map of the target river reaches and how to sign up regular program updates, can be found at www.lls.nsw.gov.au/fnbr. 

An example of stockproof fencing in a riparian zone on a property in the Western LLS region.

We want to hear from you about measuring practice change


Western LLS is always striving for continuous improvement and an important way we do this is by getting feedback from our landholders, stakeholders and community members. As such, we are wanting to hear from landholders about how the services we offer have positively influenced their knowledge, skills and practices. 

By getting this feedback, we can tailor our programs, projects and services to ensure we are meeting the needs of landholders. You can be involved in this project by providing your feedback after attending any Western LLS training or capacity building event. 

To provide feedback or register your interest, contact Silvana - silvana.keating@lls.nsw.gov.au or 0427 661 264.

Environmental markets leadership program

We are calling for expressions of interest from landholders wanting to participate in our environmental markets leadership program. The program aims to inspire and equip a network of landholders with the knowledge, skills and aspirations to enable them to earn financial return in environmental markets for improved natural resource management practices. The program will: 
  • deliver an environmental markets leadership course
  • build the skills of participants to assess their environmental market readiness, and support participants entry into an environmental market
  • create a self-sustaining environmental market leaders network and community of practice. 
If you are interested in finding out more contact Silvana - silvana.keating@lls.nsw.gov.au or 0427 661 264. This program is funded by the NSW Environmental Trust within its Environmental Education Grants Program.

Before we go...

Agfair, thanks for having us! 

We'd like to pass on a quick thanks to the landholders, stakeholders and community members we caught up with at Agfair in Broken Hill at the end of last month. The team had a great time promoting our programs, projects and general services, while taking questions and general feedback that people wanted to offer. Congratulations again to those who were lucky enough to win the competitions we had on offer. 

Until next time...


Thanks for reading this edition of Western Life. We would appreciate it if you promote this through your networks, and if it has been forwarded to you, be sure to subscribe so you automatically receive it. If you have any feedback please hit reply, we'd love to hear it.
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Western Local Land Services 
Web: www.lls.nsw.gov.au
Free call: 1300 795 299






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© State of NSW through Local Land Services, 2022 · 32 Enterprise Way · Buronga, NSW 2739 · Australia