Environment and Resource Management

The Queensland Stock Route Network

Stock routes management review and legislative reform

On 7 September 2011, the Minister for Natural Resources, Finance and The Arts introduced the Stock Route Network Management Bill 2011 into Parliament to safeguard the future of the stock route network (SRN).

This new stand-alone legislation has been subsequently referred to the Transport, Local Government and Infrastructure Committee (a portfolio committee of the Legislative Assembly) for investigation and report back to the Parliament prior to the Bill being debated.  

Heavy use of the SRN by travelling stock during the severe drought in 2002–03 highlighted the shortfall between the cost of using the network and the cost of its management and maintenance. Concern about the long-term viability of the SRN prompted Western Queensland councils to raise several policy and operational issues with DERM through the Local Government Association of Queensland. In response, the department initiated a review into the management arrangements for the SRN.

The Stock Route Network Management Bill 2011 is the culmination of this lengthy reform process. During the reform process, advisory panels comprising key stakeholders and local governments collaborated with DERM in the development of new management arrangements for the SRN.

Read more about the proposed reforms supporting the Stock route Network management Bill.

Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots Along Western Queensland Stock Routes

The Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots Along Western Queensland Stock Routes report identifies 47 biodiversity hotspots on Western Queensland stock routes, and other sites of high-nature conservation and geological value.

About Queensland's Stock Route Network

The SRN provides pastoralists with a means of moving stock ‘on the hoof’ around Queensland’s main pastoral districts as an alternative to trucking and other motorised transport methods.

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

The SRN is currently administered under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 (PDF)*. Some grazing access is administered under the Land Act 1994, and the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 also includes relevant provisions. Local governments currently have responsibility for day-to-day administration and some network maintenance.

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

View a map of the declared stock routes (PDF, 607K)* across Queensland.

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 2009-14 (PDF, 320K)* 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.

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:

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 Transport and Main Roads oversees state-controlled roads.

Reserves

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

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

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 Environment and Resource Management (DERM).

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

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:

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

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

Review of permit decisions

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

DERM will independently assess the application using the same process as local governments. DERM 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, 52K)* form. The original application and local government decision should accompany the review application when it is submitted to DERM.

For further information contact your local government.

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)*. Contact the relevant local government to view a copy of its stock route network management plan.

Maps

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

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

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

Contacts

Stock Route Management unit

Fax number: (07) 3330 6236

Contact the following officers for enquiries relating to:

The Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
email: Principal Policy Officer

Phone: (07) 3330 6170

The Queensland SRN management strategy
email: Senior Project Officer

Phone: (07) 3330 6165

Local government SRN management planning
email: Senior Project Officer

Phone: (07) 3330 6165

Stock route water facility agreements
email: Senior Policy Officer

Phone: (07) 3330 6165

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) 3330 6170.

Other contacts

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

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Last updated 11 November 2011

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