Absentee landholders

Understand your obligations for managing your rural property as an absentee landholder. Get advice on working with your neighbours and important steps for meeting your General Biosecurity Duty.

Rural property with lush green pastures with rolling hills and mountains in background

What is an absentee landholder?

An absentee landholder is someone who owns land but lives elsewhere, either full or part time. This can include:

  • productive farms where the land is used for agriculture and there is no one living at the location
  • weekenders or hobby farms owned by people who live elsewhere and visit occasionally
  • lifestyle or bush blocks.
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Biosecurity for absentee landholders

You are responsible for managing your land to prevent pest and weeds from spreading into neighbouring properties. Uncontrolled pests and weeds can spread quickly, damaging the environment and neighbouring farms.

Absentee landholders have a General Biosecurity Duty and shared responsibility to prevent the spread of pests and reduce the biosecurity risks they pose.

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General Biosecurity Duty for absentee landholders

Large or small. Productive, hobby or bush block. Home or home away from home – whatever your land looks like, every landholder has a responsibility to control pests and weeds.

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Video transcript

General Biosecurity Duty for absentee landholders

Do you own land in rural or regional New South Wales but live elsewhere?

You're still responsible for managing your land to prevent pest and weeds from spreading into neighbouring properties.

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, you have a General Biosecurity Duty and shared responsibility to prevent their spread and reduce the biosecurity risks they pose.

Uncontrolled pests and weeds can spread quickly, damaging the environment and neighbouring farms.

It's up to you as the landholder to monitor your property and take action, regardless of how your land is used.

Whether you do it yourself, or hire help, you've got to take action.

Regular inspections, pest animal control and weed removal are essential.

Don't forget - out of sight doesn't mean out of mind.

Pests and weeds don't know boundaries.

For best results, work with your neighbours and local pests and weed control groups to coordinate management.

Remember, you're not alone.

Drop in to your Local Land Services office, call for a chat to your LLS biosecurity officer about coordinating control with your neighbours, or check out our online resources for more support on how you can meet your General Biosecurity Duty. 

Some pest plants and animals are declared under the Biosecurity Act 2015 for particular regions. If a species is declared in your area, you have a legal responsibility to control or destroy it.

Know which animals and weeds are priorities in your area by looking at the relevant management plans for your region:

Create your own biosecurity plan tailored to your property or circumstances. This might include preventing the spread of weeds and diseases when travelling between properties. 

Make sure you know how to control biosecurity threats and comply with legal requirements. A small amount of effort in the short term can save time and money in the long term, even if it seems daunting at first!

Preparing for emergencies as an absentee landholder

Preparing for emergencies and being safe on your property is important for everyone! Get prepared, know your responsibilities, have a good emergency plan in place and get advice if you are unsure before any emergency occurs. This is especially important for absentee landholders with livestock.

Complete a farm emergency plan for flood and bushfire, and get to know your neighbours. If you are often away from your property, talk to them about whether they are prepared to move, care for or relocate your animals or possessions in the event of an emergency.

Ensure you have a safe area with shelter for stock, a reliable water supply and appropriate fencing. It is your responsibility to ensure your stock are safe, even when you are away from the property.

Improve biodiversity and prevent land degradation

Absentee landholders must take all reasonable steps to prevent degradation of their land. For example, water and wind erosion can be serious issues. Maintaining groundcover as much as possible is key to avoiding erosion - aim for 100% groundcover all year around, minimising the time the soil is bare. Ensuring adequate groundcover will also assist with weed management.

To protect the biodiversity and value of your rural block, learn about wildlife friendly fencing, water quality, and what native trees you could plant to improve your land.

If you are new to looking after a rural property, consider joining your local Landcare group. This will also help you meet other people in your new community who have similar interests.

Stay connected

Communities working together – individuals, neighbours, council and Local Land Services – is the best way to improve biodiversity, protect farms, and manage weeds, pests and diseases.

Simple coordinated actions are more effective than working alone.

Stay in touch with neighbours and share information about potential threats to your properties. Work with them to improve and protect your properties, and to maximise your control efforts.

Attend local events run by Local Land Services to learn more.

Sign up to your Local Land Services regional newsletter.

Contact Local Land Services NSW

We welcome your enquiries, feedback and comments.  Contact our team

Find your nearest LLS office

Use the search function to find information or resources from Local Land Services.

Phone:1300 795 299
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