Up to 30,000 refugees could be offered safe haven in New South Wales on the provision they live and work in a rural area.

News Limited reports New South Wales Premier Mike Baird has become the first state leader to opt-in to what is called the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa scheme.

From July, eligible asylum seekers will be able to apply to reside in any part of New South Wales - excluding Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong - for five years. The government is expected to create a list of targeted rural regions with labour shortages.

Tamworth mayor Col Murray says he would welcome asylum seekers wanting to move to his area.

Other towns reportedly willing to put themselves forward for the scheme are the Riverina-area communities of Griffith and Wagga Wagga, where vacancies often struggle to be filled in the areas of machinery operation, packing, and general farm hand work.