The book provides rural landowners with general information on managing rural land, good management practices and the contact details of people and organisations who provide support to rural landowners.

Wollondilly Shire Council and the Sydney Catchment Authority developed the book to give landowners advice on specific legislative requirements such as weed and pest animal control, maintenance of fences, managing water quality, stock welfare and managing bushfire fuel loads on rural land.

Wollondilly Mayor Michael Banasik said the book was a good guide for rural residential landholders or for people who were interested in moving to a rural area like Wollondilly.

``It provides a wide range of valuable information and is a fantastic resource for our residents,'' he said. ``Landowners can keep the handbook as a resource that can be referenced from time to time.''

Minister for Water and Wollondilly MP Phil Costa, said the State Government was pleased to support the development of the handbook.

``The NSW Government has developed these important rural living handbooks with several councils in the drinking water catchment,'' he said. ``I'm sure they'll be well received and I encourage rural residents in our area to take advantage of the resource.''