Stock routes

You must apply to the relevant local government for an appropriate permit to move or graze stock on the stock route network.

When you’ll need a grazing (agistment) permit

A stock route grazing (agistment) permit is required to agist stock on:

• stock routes
• reserves for travelling stock
• roads under local government control.

The purpose of the permit is to provide short-term relief while longer term strategies are put in place.

Grazing (agistment) permits issued for travelling stock under a stock route travel permit are valid for a maximum of 7 days and cannot be renewed. Permits for other stock are issued for a maximum for 28 days and can be renewed once only.

Before you apply

Contact the relevant local government for the preferred agistment locations.

Who can apply

You are eligible for a grazing (agistment) permit if you:

• are a landowner whose land is adversely affected by drought, fire or flood
  or
• hold a stock route travel permit and the stock require agistment for branding, crutching, dipping, drenching, jetting, shearing or trucking
  or
• spell the stock to comply with an obligation imposed by animal welfare legislation
  or
• are responding to a notice by local government inviting applications for agistment of stock.

You are not eligible to apply if you have held a grazing (agistment) permit for the land in the 3 months immediately before the date of application.

You do not need to reside in the local government area where the application is submitted.

Fees

Application fee of $159.00 per application paid to the local government.

When deciding the fee, local government considers the:

• characteristics of the land such as topography, vegetation
• number and type of stock to be agisted under the permit
• reason for the agistment of stock
• weather conditions forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology for the term of the permit
• quality of pasture available for agistment
• accessibility of water at the agistment site
• proposed use of travelling stock facilities (including water facilities)
• commercial agistment rates in the local government area for the type of stock to be agisted.

Once a permit has been issued, you must pay the local government the amount shown on the permit.

The fee range set by legislation is given below.

Exceptions

Fees are not charged for the agistment permit if the stock is travelling to a gymkhana or rodeo under a stock route travel permit and you need to agist the stock to:

• brand, crutch, dip, drench, jet, shear, or truck; or

• spell the stock to comply with an obligation imposed by animal welfare legislation.

Definitions

• Eligible large stock means alpacas, asses, buffaloes, camels, cattle, deer, donkeys, horses, llamas, mules or vicuna.
• Eligible small stock means goats and sheep.

How to apply

• Complete the Application for a stock route grazing (agistment) permit (PDF, 533.9 KB) .
• Lodge it with the relevant local government.
• Payment of the relevant application fee.

Note: Applications can generally be lodged in person or by post, fax or email (check with the local council).

Conditions

• If responding to a local government notice, you must lodge your application within 7 days.
• If applying for agistment of travelling stock, apply at least 3 days before the proposed agistment period.
• If applying for other reasons, allow at least 7 days for your application to be processed.

Application assessment

The local government will assess the application by considering the:

• likely requirements of travelling stock for pasture and water
• local stock route network management plan
• likelihood that agistment will introduce or spread a declared pest or degrade the land
• impacts on road safety.

Once the application has been assessed, you will receive a written notice of the decision.

Related links

Read about review of local government decisions.