Stock routes review

The Minister for Natural Resources and Water has released key findings of the review undertaken on Queensland’s stock route network.

Read more about the stock routes review.

Queensland's stock route network (SRN) provides pastoralists with a means of moving stock 'on the hoof' around the state's main pastoral districts, as an alternative to trucking and other contemporary transport methods.

Approximately 72 000 kilometres (2.6 million hectares) of Queensland's road network is declared as stock route. These routes, together with reserves for travelling stock, make up the Queensland SRN.

The Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 (Land Protection Act) (PDF, 900 kB)* regulates the use of the SRN.

• What are stock routes?
• History of the SRN
• Difference between stock routes and roads
• Reserves
• Who manages the stock route network?
• Travel and agistment permits
• Review of permit decisions
• Local government SRN management plans
• Maps
• Contacts

What are stock routes?

Stock routes are pathways for travelling stock on roads, reserves, unallocated state land and pastoral leases.

In Queensland, a stock route may be a route ordinarily used for moving stock on foot or a road that is declared in the Land Protection Regulation 2003 to be a stock route. Most stock routes are on public roads that may also carry traffic and public utilities.

Stock routes are divided into four classifications for operational and management purposes. The classification is determined by permit data obtained from local governments and is classified by average usage over a five year period (see Table 1, below).

Table 1: Thresholds for stock route classifications

Classification	Cattle equivalent for a five year period
Primary	>9000
Secondary	3000–9000
Minor	<3000
Inactive	local and unrecorded movements

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History of the SRN

The evolution of Queensland's SRN correlates with early colonial exploration and pastoral occupation of lands, after pastoralists drove stock along corridors that followed river systems, Indigenous trade routes and trails.

These established routes were recognised and dedicated as roads between the 1860s and 1890s.

From the early 1900s the Queensland Government established a program to develop stock route water facilities throughout the stock route network. A similar program exists today, maintaining established stock route facilities and building new facilities where required.

Stock route use declined in the 1950s and 1960s with the advent of motorised transport and introduction of road improvement schemes—making road transport a more convenient and efficient way to transport stock.

However, high fuel prices and chronic drought in recent times has meant the SRN has provided a cost-effective alternative for transporting stock.

The Queensland Stock Route Network Management Strategy 2006–09 (PDF, 265 kB)* identifies the primary purpose of the SRN is for the movement of stock on foot and aims to manage the network to provide for travelling stock requirements into the future.

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Difference between stock routes and roads

Every stock route is a road but not every road is a stock route. For stock route management purposes the term 'road' refers to the road reserve (or road corridor, which can vary in width from 60–1600 metres), not just the constructed part (carriageway) of the road.

Roads are areas of land dedicated for public uses, such as:

• utilities (power lines, pipelines and telecommunications)
• constructing carriageways for road transport
• recreational uses.

The SRN uses the same roads for walking and agisting stock.

Stock routes have no separate title or tenure from the underlying road reserve. If a stock route's declaration is removed, the road remains but would no longer be referred to as a stock route.

Local governments manage the local government-controlled roads, while the Department of Main Roads oversees state-controlled roads.

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Reserves

A 'reserve for travelling stock' is a reserve under the Land Act 1994 (PDF, 1.3 MB)* designated for travelling stock purposes. Reserves for travelling stock include:

• camping and water reserves
• pasture reserves
• trucking reserves.

Reserves for travelling stock are managed as part of the network, with most under the trusteeship of local government.

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Who manages the stock route network?

Under the Land Protection Act, the administration of the SRN is shared between local government and the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW).

Local government is responsible for day-to-day management, while NRW is responsible for providing the framework of legislation and policy for stock route management and support for local governments.

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Travel and agistment permits

A permit is required to travel or agist stock on the SRN. A landholder or stockowner must apply to the local government for a permit to walk (travel permit) or graze (agistment permit) stock on the SRN.

A permit is not required for local movements, where the travel is:

• occurring during clear daylight hours;
• between adjoining or commonly owned properties
• for animal husbandry or property management purposes

To apply for a stock route travel permit or stock route agistment permit, applicants must complete one of the application forms below:

• Application for a stock route travel permit (PDF, 120 kB)*
• Application for a stock route agistment permit (PDF, 25 kB)*.

The following guides have been prepared to assist applicants to apply for a stock route permit:

• Stock route agistment permit - L151  (PDF, 172 kB )

This fact sheet outlines the department's role as administrator of the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002, as well as outlining the criteria, application and review processes for obtaining a stock route agistment permit.

• Stock route travel permit - L171 (PDF, 219 kB)

This fact sheet outlines the department's roles as administrator of the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002, as well as outlining the criteria, application and review processes for obtaining a stock route travel permit.

Applicants are advised to contact the relevant local government to determine the condition of the SRN and its suitability for use, before making an application.

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Review of permit decisions

If a permit application is refused by the local government, the applicant may apply to NRW for a review of the decision.

NRW will independently assess the application using the same process as local governments. NRW can either uphold the local government's decision not to grant a permit or require the local government to issue a permit, with or without conditions.

Where applications are refused due to insufficient pasture for the proposed mob, applications should only be made if the applicant believes there is sufficient pasture to feed the travelling stock and to allow for regrowth and the healthy regeneration of seed stocks.

Applications must be made on the Application for review of a stock route travel and/or agistment permit decision (PDF, 64 kB)* form. The original application and local government decision should accompany the review application when it is submitted to NRW.

For further information contact your local government.

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Local government SRN management plans

Selected local governments are required under the Land Protection Act to have a stock route network management plan. The plan outlines how a local government will manage and administer the stock route network in their local government area.

Local governments required to have a management plan are listed in Schedule 4 of the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Regulation 2003 (PDF, 421 kB)*. Contact the relevant local government to view a copy of its stock route network management plan.

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Maps

NRW has developed a Queensland Stock Routes and Water Points map, which identifies watering points throughout the Queensland SRN. The map can be purchased from NRW's regional service centres.

Shire maps entitled ‘Queensland Stock Route Network Maps’ can also be viewed at the NRW Service Centres.

Anyone considering using the stock route network or following the map should contact the appropriate local government to confirm:

• permit requirements
• accessibility
• condition of the stock routes and water facilities

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Contacts

Stock Route Management unit
Fax number: (07) 3405 5521

Contact the following officers for enquiries relating to:

The Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002

Email: Principal Policy Officer

Phone: (07) 3224 2408

The Queensland SRN management strategy

Email: Senior Policy Officer

Phone: (07) 3406 2876

Local government SRN management planning

Email: Senior Policy Officer

Phone: (07) 3406 2876

Stock route water facility agreements

Email: Water agreement

Phone: (07) 3224 7861

Downloading documents from this page

If you have difficulty downloading any of the documents or would like a copy sent via mail email Principal Policy Officer or phone (07) 3224 2408.

Other contacts

For stock route permits, water facility agreements and general stock route enquiries, contact the relevant local government.

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