Projects and programs
We support local people to improve the health and productivity of their area.
Screening our streams project 2022-23
Landholders in the Western region have a fantastic opportunity to participate in a project that will save native fish populations while simultaneously improving the quality of water delivered to their property.
The Screening our streams project provides up to $5,000 to support to landholders in the Western Local Land Services region for the installation of a fish-friendly screen on their pump intake.
Fish-friendly screens save farm businesses water, time and money, while also contributing to the health of the river system. Fish-friendly screens do not slow water delivery rates and along with native fish, larvae and eggs, the screens also stop any floating weeds or debris entering the pump.
Find out more about the Screening our Streams project and lodge an expressions of interest. EOIs close 5 pm on Friday 14 July 2023.
The Land Services Program
The Land Services Program offers a new approach to property planning and rural enterprise mentoring in the Western region, and is suitable for landholders interested in building their capacity, innovation and learning from their peers and industry experts.
The Program, which began in 2018 with three businesses in a pilot program, runs over two years or eight 'quarters' and operates under a case officer approach, which pairs participants with one of our staff members who will provide support and guidance through the program. In addition, a range of mentors have been identified to match the particular enterprise and landscapes of the participants.
Click here for further information and resources on the program.
Pastoral Poddy
The Pastoral Poddy is a podcast for landholders community members and industry on all things pertinent to the rangelands of Western NSW. The Pastoral Poddy is free to listen to on all major podcast apps including Apple, Google and Spotify — please search for 'Pastoral Poddy' on your usual podcast platform.
Click here to access the episodes and please share them with a mate!
Wild dogs in the Western region
Wild dogs are a significant problem in Western NSW, causing significant losses to livestock enterprises, with consequent economic and social impacts. There can also be considerable impacts to the environment and cultural heritage values of the region, through predation on small to medium sized native fauna species, which may be endangered and important totems for Aboriginal communities.
In 2020, a number of new and innovative programs and projects, focussing on wild dogs, were rolled out across the Western region, following a successful funding application through the Australian Government’s ‘Communities Combatting Pest and Weed Impacts During Drought’ Program. These programs and projects have continued into 2021.
Click here for further information on the programs or projects, and for information on managing pest animals more generally, contact your nearest Biosecurity Officer, Local Landcare Coordinator or Regional Pest Animal Coordinator, Phil Baird on 0417 776 218 or email.
Monitoring pastures with drone technology
Landholders are invited to participate in our monitoring pastures with drone technology project (2021-23) which aims to increase landholder's capacity to adopt drone technology and apply it in agricultural and natural resource management applications currently available and emerging.
This project will also assess current drone technologies abilities through completing seasonal drone maps and collating a case study to assess its use in monitoring in the Western NSW pasture setting. There are a number of opportunities to participate in the project, including:
- drone pastures maps of your property taken seasonally for the next two years (limited spots available)
- 4 x drone mapping courses being held across the region
- 2 x field days demonstrating using drones in pasture mapping
- free access to drone mapping software to June 2023.
To find out more about the project and opportunities to be involved, contact Claudia Bryant, Land Services Officer, on 0448 796 109 or claudia.bryant@lls.nsw.gov.au. This project is supported by Western Local Land Services and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
Regional landholder and Aboriginal community survey
Every three years, we coordinate separate surveys with the landholders and Aboriginal community members within our region. The surveys are designed to assist the Western Local Land Services Board and staff with identifying opportunities and trends, with the information to help us plan our activities and priorities for the years ahead.
Click here to view the reports on the surveys that were carried out in 2020, 2017 and 2014.
Key Investment Priorities
The key areas for investment, through on-ground works and training, are:
Productive industries and adaptable, connected communities
- adaptable and resilient land managers
- sustainable and productive agricultural industry
- Aboriginal people connected to country, culture and heritage.
Healthy and resilient landscapes and aquatic systems
- healthy and resilient landscapes
- healthy and resilient aquatic systems.
Adaptive governance, decision making and management
Western Catchment Action Plan
The key investment priorities were developed with considerable input from local communities through the development of the 2013-2023 Western Catchment Action Plan (CAP). The CAP provides direction for natural resource management in the Western Local Land Services region.