July 30, 2015
Local councils will be able to manage local stock routes and collect the funds graziers pay to use them under proposed changes to Queensland’s state land administration laws.
Natural Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham announced the changes at the AgForce State Conference in Toowoomba on Thursday.
“Councils currently authorise livestock movement on our 2.6 million hectares and 72,000km of stock routes by issuing travel permits and short-term grazing permits,” he said.
“Stock routes will remain primarily a vital source of pasture for travelling stock, emergency agistment and short-term grazing, but there’s so much more councils will be able to do.”
Under proposed changes, graziers will pay councils for their grazing permits, not the State Government as they do now.
“Councils will then be able to use those funds to manage stock routes and invest in improved pest and weed control, protect the environment and reduce fire risks,” Dr Lynham said.
“As well, it will be the actual users of the routes who will be paying for their maintenance and management now, rather than all of the ratepayers in the council’s area.”
Other planned changes include removing the requirement on councils to have a Stock Route Management Plan, to reduce the regulatory burden and free up staff resources.
Dr Lynham said legislation would be developed in consultation with AgForce and the Local Government Association of Queensland for introduction to Parliament early next year.
