News yesterday that the state government has pledged to keep Queensland’s 72,000 km of stock routes has been welcomed by Queensland councils.

“The new arrangements for these stock routes, which are older than Queensland itself, are a positive move from the government,” Local Government Association of Queensland president, Cr Paul Bell, said today.

“The LGAQ fully supports the changes, which we began discussing with Natural Resources minister, Stephen Robertson, when he first held the portfolio seven years ago. Now, back in the portfolio, Mr Robertson has announced the new policy, which will go to Parliament,” Cr Bell said.

“I must say that the LGAQ has been fully consulted by the government through all stages of this process. It’s not unusual for such an important decision to go through such a lengthy gestation period,” he said.

“Before these changes, ratepayers were unfairly bearing the costs of maintaining the stock routes. In some councils, up to 15 per cent of their limited rate bases is expended on stock route management and supervision – obviously an unfair imposition. Councils are responsible for the day-to-day management of the routes.

“By law, every council road is a stock route, in addition to the dedicated and gazetted stock routes. In times of drought, the roads are used extensively to move stock, sometimes travelling thousands of kilometres in search of food and water,” Cr Bell said.

Cr Paul Bell, AM President
Executive
president@lgaq.asn.au    P: 07 3000 2222    M: 0418 791 596