2025 Local Land Services strategic plan implementation audits




Status:

Audit reports provided

Advice date:

September 2025

Audit purpose

We audited implementation of the local strategic plans for all 11 Local Land Services (LLS) regions and of the LLS state strategic plan. The audit was carried out to ascertain whether the plans’ provisions are being given effect, in line with sections 44(2) and 54(2) of the Local Land Services Act 2013.

To assess the implementation of each region’s local strategic plan, as well as their contribution to the state strategic plan, during financial year 2023-24 (the reporting period) we used two lines of inquiry:

  1. Have business processes (i.e. communication, planning, resourcing, prioritisation, and statewide support) been implemented to support delivery of the local strategic plan?
  2. Have strategic measures of success been achieved, monitored and adaptively reviewed?

Plans audited from each LLS region included:

  • Central Tablelands Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • Central West Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • Greater Sydney Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • Hunter Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • Murray Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • North Coast Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • North West Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • Northern Tablelands Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • Riverina Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • South East Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026
  • Western Local Land Services local strategic plan 2021-2026

Audit Findings

The limited assurance audit of the 11 local strategic plans concluded that all regions are giving effect to their plans and contributing to the state strategic plan through the implementation of thematically aligned programs. The audit also identified a variety of performance gaps within and between regions that have diminished the contribution of local strategic planning to the overall effectiveness of local and state programs.

Higher-performing regions demonstrated strong ownership of local strategic planning practices that reflected their regional challenges and management needs. Strategic planning supported regional decision-making and well-integrated business systems. In contrast, lower-performing regions demonstrated less ownership of their planning and business processes and a reliance on state level guidance. Planning horizons were also primarily short term, reducing the value of service delivery and effectiveness in a complex operating environment.

Specific findings and recommendations for each LLS region have been detailed in their respective regional audit reports. The state report summarises the key themes identified across all 11 regional audits and offers additional insights into broader challenges and opportunities relevant to ongoing implementation of both the LLS state and local strategic plans.

Key documents