Review confirms fears about NSW travelling stock route sale

The Wilderness Society (Sydney) Inc
National Parks Association of NSW
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Media Release
6 June 2008

A government commissioned report released today confirms community fears that the future of NSW’s iconic travelling stock route network is under threat.

“Travelling Stock Routes are the last remaining corridors of vegetation in some of our most degraded landscapes. They are an important part of our rural history and important biodiversity reservoirs. They provide vital wildlife corridors, are critical for many migratory birds and give protection against the impacts of climate change” says Cecile van der Burgh from The Wilderness Society.

Travelling stock routes in NSW are Crown lands and are managed by Rural Land Protection Boards on behalf of the community. But the Boards are not being sufficiently funded by government and today’s report recommends responsibility for the Stock Routes be given over to the Department of Lands.

“The Department of Lands cannot manage the exceptional ecological and cultural values of the Stock Route Network and it is in the process of selling off large tracts of our public crown land”, says Ms van der Burgh.

“We are urging the Premier to protect the extraordinary ecological and cultural values of the whole network and keep the routes actively managed by the current local rangers and in public ownership”, she said.

The area of stock routes in NSW has already been reduced from over 2 million ha in 1975 to less than 600,000 ha in 2001. “The Premier should follow the example of the Queensland government which has promised not to sell off Stock Routes in its jurisdiction”, says Bev Smiles of the National Parks Association.

“If the Premier is serious about his State Plan, serious about tackling climate change and serious about the environment he should immediately commit to the long term protection of these iconic routes”, Ms Smiles said.

The RLPB review is available at:
http://www.rlpb.org.au/news/review-recommendations-set-the-future-for-rlpbs