Drovers and stock owners who hold a stock permit authorising stock to be walked across or along a public road have the right to move livestock on public roads and are required to display signs so motorists are warned of the upcoming hazard.
There are several steps to take before moving or grazing livestock on public roads.
Drovers’ responsibilities for moving stock
The owner or person in charge of stock on the public road must ensure, as far as practicable, that the stock do not pose a hazard to any person, animal or vehicle on the road.
If it is reasonably foreseeable that stock on or near a public road may be a hazard to any person animal or vehicle on the road, the owner or person in charge of the stock must ensure that the stock are in a stock zone.
Moving stock on public roads through a travelling stock reserve
Drovers in charge of travelling stock on a travelling stock reserve through which an unfenced public road passes must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the stock are fenced to prevent them from moving onto the public road between sunset and sunrise.
This may require the drover to yard the stock in a temporary holding pen overnight. This will not apply to a person who has a stock permit which authorises the stock to enter, travel or graze on the public road.
Checklist
To move stock on public roads you must:
- obtain a stock permit from Local Land Services which authorises stock to be walked across or along a public road
- establish a temporary stock zone, or use a permanent stock zone
- keep stock under control and attended at all times
- have minimum $20 million Public Liability Insurance
- ensure stock meet National Livestock Identification System requirements
- comply with obligations under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and Biosecurity Regulation 2017.
Do I need a permit to move stock?
Yes, unless an exception applies.
Before moving livestock along public roads, drovers and landholders are required to hold a stock permit from Local Land Services that authorises stock to be walked across or along a public road.
Stock permits may authorise a number of different things. Drovers and landholders need to check that the stock permit they hold expressly authorises stock to be walked across or along a public road.
Applications for permits should be made in advance and at least 2 working days before the permit is required.
Landholders with long term grazing permits for select travelling stock reserves must still obtain a separate permit to move or graze livestock on public roads.
Exceptions:
A stock permit is not required if any of the following applies and stock are travelling at the required travelling rate:
- the stock are horses that are being ridden or led in daylight
- the stock are drawing or being led by a vehicle in daylight
- the person is moving the stock in daylight from one part of a holding that is adjacent to another part of the holding from which it is separated only by a public road
- the person is moving the stock at any time along the road in an emergency
- the person is moving dairy cows from one part of a holding that is adjacent to another part of the holding from which it is separated only by a public road during the period between sunset and sunrise on the following day for the shortest practicable distance
- the person is authorised to walk or graze stock on the public road under any Act or regulation
- the stock are camels that are being ridden or led in daylight.
A stock zone must be in place
Before moving or grazing stock on or near a public road, drovers and landholders need to check that the area is a permanent stock zone, or set up a temporary stock zone.
Permanent stock zones are managed by Roads Authorities and are identified by a designated permanent stock zone sign.
Temporary stock zones may be established by a person who owns or has charge of stock grazing or walking on a public road. The person may set aside the whole or part of the road as a temporary stock zone by exhibiting a temporary stock zone sign at the entry point of the zone.
Signage requirements for temporary stock zones
Drovers and landholders must visibly display approved black and yellow warning signs to create a temporary stock zone.
Stock warning signs can be purchased from Local Land Services offices.
These signs must:
- meet the minimum size requirements of 900mm x 600mm and be in good condition
- be exhibited at the entry point of the zone to which it relates
- be clearly visible to motorists who approach stock in either direction
- when exhibited by an occupier of land through which an unfenced public road passes, be positioned so that a driver is warned at a reasonable distance of the presence or likely presence of stock
- when exhibited by a person who owns or has charge of stock that are grazing or walking on a public road, be positioned so that there are no more than five kilometres and no less than 200 metres between the sign and a place where a vehicle would encounter the stock.
The person must remove the temporary stock zone sign when the stock are no longer on or near the public road.
Here's an example of a correctly displayed stock sign in good condition:
Here's an example of an unacceptable road sign:
Which stock permit do I need?
There are four classes of stock permits, as outlined under the Local Land Services Act 2013:
- walking stock permit
- grazing stock permit
- roadside grazing stock permit
- routine stock movement permit.
Read more about applying for a stock permit.
Driver’s responsibilities in a stock zone
In a temporary stock zone, drivers must give way to stock and all other animals and any vehicle accompanying the stock. However, this does not mean that a person can leave stock unattended in a stock zone.
Unattended stock?
Fines apply to unattended stock on public roads.
Landholders can be fined under the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 if stock are left unattended in public. On-the-spot fines, higher court penalties, rapid seizure action and enforcement orders for all offences are in force from 1 May 2023.