Assessing e Values and Management of the NSW Travelling ... - Land

ASSESSING THE VALUES AND MANAGEMENT OF THE NSW TRAVELLING STOCK RESERVE
1. Introduction
1.1 Project Background
The Travelling Stock Reserve and Route, or TSR, system in NSW comprises approximately
6466 separate reserves totalling 740,000 hectares* (see Figure 1). This network of TSRs
has been an integral part of rural life in Australia for over 150 years and the grazing industry
is still dependant on these reserves, mostly as supplementary grazing areas, particularly in
times of drought. All TSRs are Crown land with the vast majority being managed under trust
by the Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (formerly Rural Lands Protection Boards).
It is well acknowledged that significant components of the TSR network support high
conservation value remnants of biologically diverse and often connected native vegetation
within over cleared landscapes (McKnight 1977 and DEC 2004). These reserves are also
known to contain items of significant cultural heritage, and provide a venue to encourage
and promote sustainable recreation and other social uses by local communities.
An independent review of the Rural Land Protection Board (RLPB) operations,
commissioned by the RLPB State Council and conducted in early 2008, looked at the role
of TSRs. The review recommended sweeping reforms across the Board system including
“TSR land and on-going management will be ceded back the NSW Department of Lands
except where ...Boards establish… a clear business case for their retention” (IMC 2008 pg
9). The then Dept of Lands recognised that there would be opportunities to identify and
enhance the environmental and social values on these parcels as part of this hand back.
This pilot project aims to assess the values of TSRs within the former Maitland and Hunter
RLPB areas and to make recommendations on their optimal use and management. The
project is funded by the NSW Catchment Action Program and the NSW Government and it
supports a number of targets within the NSW State Plan, including better outcomes for
native vegetation, biodiversity, land management and riverine ecosystems and wetlands.
The project was developed in partnership with the Hunter Central Rivers Catchment
Management Authority (HCRCMA) and was supported by both technical and stakeholder
reference groups.
* Figures exclude the NSW Western Division TSRs as these consist of leasehold Crown
land not held under trust by the LHPA (RLPB).
REPORT ON METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS AUGUST 2009 Page 6 of 88