Jimbour Grassland Stock Route
Photo © Alison Goodland

The Stock Route Coalition, of which Wildlife Queensland is a key member, has every reason to be pleased with known achievements to date. The Coalition has lobbied hard over the past years for significant change. An indication of change to come was foreshadowed in the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) but the final changes will only surface with certainty when legislation is passed much later this year.

However there are a number of the issues raised in the log of claims which have been cemented in place.

An interim Stock Route Panel has been formed with member representation from grazing, local government, indigeneous, droving, land protection and conservation interests. This panel is charged with recommending the management framework for the new Stock Route legislation. There is considerable work to be done within the given constraints arising from the RIS. Government is keen to have the new legislation in place prior to the end of 2010 but is most anxious to get it right rather meet a tight time frame. This committee has met twice and another meeting is scheduled by early May.

Known successes:

• Retention of the entire network.
• Management of all the values of the stock route. Sections of the network through some national parks closed with an alternate route established skirting the park.
• Expansion of the Stock Route Panel
• Clear and transparent processes to define the various segments of the stock route from active through to inactive being developed.
• A standard approach to the assessment of pasture and soil condition and other values is being developed. 
• The State to make a plan for the entire network. Local governments will continue to administer the network and be the sole permit issuer but must comply with the state’s minimum standards.
• Strategies for the management of weeds, feral pests and fire to ensure the values of the network are not adversely impacted.
• Strong emphasis on education, compliance and enforcement issues.
• Enhanced funding raised through a user pays system so management is not subsidised by local rate payers.

This all bides well for an enhanced management outcome for the Stock route network and all its values. Within the foreseeable future, a full assessment of the entire network is required not only to establish a baseline but to ascertain if the strategies being applied are appropriate.

The devil is always in the detail and until the legislation surfaces there is scope for an unexpected surprise.

Read more about stock routes.

• Save our Stock Routes - August 2008
• Stock Routes Update - September 2009
• Stock Routes Update - November 2009

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.