Local Land Services Act 2013 (NSW)

Local Land Services Act 2013 No 51

An Act to establish Local Land Services and to repeal the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998 and the Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003; and for other purposes.

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Name of Act This Act is the Local Land Services Act 2013.

2 Commencement (1) This Act commences on 1 January 2014, except as provided by subsection (2). (2) The following provisions commence on a day to be appointed by proclamation— (a) sections 6 and 7 and Schedule 1, (b) clauses 5 and 6 of Schedule 6.

3 Objects of Act The objects of this Act are as follows— (a) to establish a statutory corporation (to be known as Local Land Services) with responsibility for management and delivery of local land services in the social, economic and environmental interests of the State in accordance with any State priorities for local land services, (b) to establish a governance framework to provide for the proper and efficient management and delivery of local land services, (c) to establish local boards for the purpose of devolving management and planning functions to regional levels to facilitate targeted local delivery of programs and services to meet community, client and customer needs, (d) to require decisions taken at a regional level to take account of State priorities for local land services, (e) to ensure the proper management of natural resources in the social, economic and environmental interests of the State, consistently with the principles of ecologically sustainable development (described in section 6 (2) of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991), (f) to apply sound scientific knowledge to achieve a fully functioning and productive landscape, (g) to encourage collaboration and shared responsibility by involving communities, industries and non-government organisations in making the best use of local knowledge and expertise in relation to the provision of local land services, (h) to establish mechanisms for the charging of rates, levies and contributions on landholders and fees for services, (i) to provide a framework for financial assistance and incentives to landholders, including, but not limited to, incentives that promote land and biodiversity conservation.