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

ASSESSING THE VALUES AND MANAGEMENT OF THE NSW TRAVELLING STOCK RESERVE
Appendix B. Allocating Crown Land.
The Department of Lands (Lands) is responsible for the sustainable and commercial
management and allocation of Crown land across NSW. Lands administers an area of
approximately 37.1 million hectares of Crown land (includes the 3 nautical mile zone and
Western Crown land). Lands ensures that Crown reserves are responsibly managed and
that natural resources such as water, flora and fauna and scenic beauty are conserved,
while still encouraging public use and enjoyment of the land.
Tenured land is Crown land that is directly leased, licensed or allowed to be used under
an enclosure permit by the State for a wide range of public, private and community uses,
including commercial or agricultural purposes.
Crown reserves may be managed by community-based reserve trust boards, Lands, local
councils or State government departments.
A reserve trust is responsible for the care, control and management of a specific Crown
reserve and is not for private profit. Lands provides reserve trusts with operational
support, financial assistance and guidance in the care, control and management of Crown
reserves.
Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) have always been Crown reserves and will continue to
be appropriately protected under the Crown Lands Act 1989. They were historically
formed to provide for the movement of stock across the landscape and to be used for
emergency refuge during floods and drought, as well as some local agistment. For local
towns, TSRs often provide opportunities for recreation, particularly where these reserves
include watercourses.
There are over 6,300 TSRs throughout NSW, comprising an area of approximately two
million hectares. There are no plans to sell TSRs that contribute to environmental values
or social, cultural and economic needs of the community. Current reservation will
generally not be revoked -- i.e. TSRs will remain Crown reserves. In future the reserves
may be additionally reserved to reflect a wider scope of uses -- e.g. public recreation,
and/or environmental protection, community purposes, or access to tourist facilities and
services.
During land assessments of the TSRs, suitable uses are identified for each reserve and
these need to be evaluated in terms of the principles of Crown land management, which
are found in Section 11, Crown Lands Act, 1989. The principles cover a range of
environmental, social and economic matters. The aim of the land assessment process is
to appropriately and equitable allocate Crown land. Land held under reserve can also be
placed under tenure, such as a licence for grazing.
REPORT ON METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS AUGUST 2009 Page 69 of 88