TWO Walcha farmers were among the three successful candidates in the inaugural Northern Tablelands Local Land Services elections.
Nullamanna farmer David Worsley and Walcha’s Ross King and Tim Norton were elected from a field of 28 candidates.
Mr King is a farmer east of Walcha who operates a commercial enterprise of self replacing merinos, merino wethers, prime lambs and EU accredited cattle.
He has a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics and has had continuous involvement with a number of Department of Agriculture officers in areas of abattoir feedback, supply relationships, livestock management and breeding advice.
Mr King said his aim as a board member of the Northern Tablelands LLS would be to ensure financial responsibility, a decent voting system, and maintain a real focus on productivity in agriculture.
Mr Norton is a fourth-generation sheep and cattle farmer from Walcha.
He has skills in many areas of agriculture including biosecurity, animal welfare, pest and weed management, emergency management, natural resource management, and biodiversity conservation.
Mr Worsley is a second generation farmer, running 3000 hectares in the Nullamanna district, 40km north of Inverell.
He said he nominated for the Northern Tablelands LLS because he believed it was important to ensure ratepayer interests were protected and value for the ratepayer dollar was obtained in the new LLS structure.
The elected board members will join ministerially-appointed members Grahame Marriott, Leanne Savage, Maria Woods and chair Hans Hietbrink to complete the Northern Tablelands LLS board.
Cr Hietbrink, who is the mayor of Guyra, said he was looking forward to working with the newly elected board members.
“I am extremely pleased with the very high calibre of people with very relevant experience. They will contribute greatly to the workings of the Northern Tablelands LLS board,” he said.
