Chair foreword
On behalf of the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services board and our staff, I am pleased to provide this annual report. The Northern Tablelands continues to be challenged by many factors such as feral animals, weed management, land management and climatic variation. Within our region, our staff are aware of these challenges and the complexity of farming and land management decisions. We have worked with the Northern Tablelands community to deliver quality services in land management, biosecurity, livestock producer education and extension, natural resource management, and valued engagement with Aboriginal communities.
In 2025, our team has continued to invest in, provide essential knowledge and deliver coordinated feral animal management, particularly focusing on wild dogs, pigs and deer which all pose threats to agricultural production and the broader environment. We have also focused on emerging threats such as cane toads in the Northern region. We have maintained our efforts assisting with the coordination of weed management and ensuring that emerging weeds, such as tropical soda apple, are managed effectively and efficiently.
Our focus on ensuring that beef and sheep producers have access to contemporary and important information on aspects such as sheep eID, disease management, feeder steer specifications, and sheep productivity have been valued by many stakeholders. With the onset of drier conditions, we know that our team and advisory services are well equipped to assist with feed budgeting, animal health, and biosecurity.
We maintained our commitment to capital infrastructure enhancements and weed management across our nearly 50,000-hectare travelling stock reserve network. Programs such as the ‘Good Neighbours Program’ have allowed some additional investments to occur. Our Aboriginal Community Engagement team continues to support important recognition of the cultural richness that exists within our region. Finally, special thanks to our local board, executive leadership team and all the staff that have provided professional advice, service, and a deep sense of commitment to helping all members of our Northern Tablelands region.
Dr Alex Ball
Chair, Northern Tablelands local board
