WESTERN LANDS COMMISSION (WLC)

AGISTMENT

Applications by western lands lessees to temporarily stock nearby crown lands are determined by taking into account, the state of pastures and are normally restricted to a period of 3-6 months. At the end of which the licence is reviewed.

Agistments are dealt with by Pastoral Inspectors stationed at various centres throughout the Western Division.

BUSHFIRE PREVENTION SCHEMES

The Western Lands Commission sponsors 3 bushfire prevention schemes covering more than half of the Western Division. The
Commission provides funds for the construction of fire trails.

PERMISSIVE OCCUPANCIES (PO)

Permissive occupancies are day to day tenancies of crown land used for temporary occupations or where for some reason of community
interest, a more secure tenure cannot be allowed. Therefore, they are licences, not leases. Typical land uses are temporary grazing, access to water, jetties, boatsheds, pontoons and swimming pools. For land administered by the WLC, the same. Most are granted to authorise the occupation of river frontage land for domestic and irrigation
pumping.

RESERVES AND RIVERSIDE RESERVES

Reserves are the setting aside of land by the crown for various public purposes such as recreation, public buildings, school sites, travelling stock, municipal purposes, the preservation of native flora and fauna. Most reserves are managed by local authorities for example, a reserve for public recreation managed by the local council or a cemetery by a private trust.

It is common for freehold land fronting Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River to be subject to a waterfront reserve for public use.

LAND ADMINISTERED BY THE WESTERN LANDS COMMISSIONER (WLC) (the Western Division of NSW)

CLEARING LICENSES

Clearing licenses are granted by the WLC to the holders of land
in the Western Division to remove trees. Clearing is normally undertaken to facilitate cultivation or pasture improvement. Licenses are issued with conditions to ensure maximum environmental protection and erosion control. Applications may be lodged with the local Pastoral Inspector.

CONDITIONAL PURCHASE

Holders of a Western Lands Lease (WLL) for a residence, business or similar purpose may apply to convert that lease to a purchase title.
Applications are lodged with the WLC (Sydney) where following investigation, the matter is determined. If approved, upon payment of the purchase money, freehold title is issued.

CULTIVATION PERMITS

Cultivation Permits are granted by the WLC to authorise the holders of broad acre grazing leases to undertake various forms of cultivation such as irrigation, dryland cropping, opportunity cropping following flooding, to improve pasture and to control woody weeds.

Permits specify specific areas and include conditions to ensure maximum environmental protection. Applications may be lodged with the local Pastoral Inspector.

MESQUITE CONTROL PLAN

Mesquite is a major problem in the west Darling district. The grass threatens arid and semi arid grazing lands if not controlled and eventually eradicated. The WLC has implemented a program aimed at its complete eradication.

RESERVES

There are various reserves for a number of public purposes in the Western Division. For example, for travelling stock and public recreation.

ROAD OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

The WLC administers the Public Roads Act.

SPECIAL WESTERN LANDS LEASE

Applications for the leasing of crown land are lodged, processed and determined at the WLC, Sydney. Such leases are granted for various purposes but most commonly for, residential, business and industrial.

SUB LEASING

Applications for sub leasing grazing properties are lodged, processed
and determined in the WLC, Sydney. They are only granted in special circumstances such as when the lessee is very old or suffers from ill health.

TRANSFER OF LEASES

All WLLs are subject to the Minister's consent for transfer. An application for consent is lodged with the WLC, Sydney. For grazing leases, the Minister must have regard to the need to prevent undue increases in the price of land or it's use for uneconomic or speculative purposes.

TRUSTEES

The majority of crown reserves, particularly those for recreation and similar purposes, are placed under the control of a trust. A trust may be the local shire or municipal council, private individuals or local organisations.

WILD DOG DESTRUCTION BOARD

The Western Lands Commissioner is the chairman of the Wild Dog Destruction Board. Centred at Broken Hill, the Board administers the Wild Dog Destruction Act 1921 and is responsible for the maintenance of the 616 km of dog proof fencing in the north west corner of NSW along the South Australian and Queensland borders.