'It's about putting trust back into Crown lands management' says Labor

Despite this, issues surrounding Crown land can be confusing for many in the community. 

Crown land can encompass showgrounds, travelling stock reserves, parks, community managed reserves, lands retained in public ownership for environmental purposes and lands in the Crown public roads network. 

NSW Shadow Minister for Lands Mick Veitch said there was frustration among many over the way Crown lands have been managed.

"Farmers tell us one of their greatest frustrations is dealing with the Department of Lands because if they ring up or go on the Internet to find out things they just don't get the advice they need," Mr Veitch said. 

"A lot of the head offices have been closed and the staff have moved on. In many cases you can no longer simply go to an office and talk to someone a question over a counter. 

"I spoke to someone recently on the South Coast who had a Crown land issue and they had to go to Wagga Wagga to resolve it - that was the nearest office.

Mr Veitch said if a Labor Government was elected in March they would rebuild the Department of Lands and put strategies in place to manage Crown land better. 

"We are going to rebuild the Department of Lands and put in place land managers so weeds and pests can be adequately managed on Crown land," Mr Veitch said. 

Labor also wants to create a Commissioner's role and legislate to provide greater protection for the transfer of Crown land. 

"We will create a role for a Commissioner for Crown Lands, who will work with councils and communities around land disputes," he said. 

"A Labor government will also move quickly to provide greater parliamentary protection for showgrounds, travelling stock reserves, parks and other significant reserves by dedicating them under the Crown lands legislation."

"We will also legislate greater protections for Crown land and hire more front line staff.

 In announcing its Crown lands’ policy, Mr Veitch said NSW Labor also committed to:

“This is about putting the trust back into Crown land management,” Mr Veitch said.

"We want to put the reserve trust system back in place so we have trust managers.

"We want to have a conversation with the community about how they want crown lands managed in this state." 

He said a Labor government would also install a dedication system to protect crown land when it passes from one owner to another.

"At the moment if a parcel of land is dedicated you need both houses of parliament to approve it before you can do anything to it," he said.

"We are going to dedicate travelling stock reserves and showgrounds that are owned by councils because we want to make sure they are not sold off by future governments."