Straying Stock on Roads – What is your responsibility

Straying Stock on Roads – What is your responsibility

22 November, 2023

Lithgow City Council is urging land holders and graziers to be aware of their responsibilities in relation to their livestock movements. The movement of livestock is bound by permits issued by NSW Local Land Services (LLS).  

To ensure you are meeting your obligations regarding livestock ownership, the following points should be noted and followed: 

Ensure your boundary fences are stock proof. Regularly maintain your fences and attend to repairs immediately. The Dividing Fences Act 1991 provides information to landholders regarding liability for fencing work.  It is an offence under the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 to cause or permit an animal to be unattended in a public place, unless the person establishes that they took reasonable precautions to prevent the animal from being unattended.  The Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW) outlines your obligations when dealing with biosecurity matters. Stock can create biosecurity risks if they are allowed to stray, and you may be committing an offence under this Act if stock wander outside your property. 

It is important to remember that as a stock owner, if your stock stray onto a public road or onto any public place without a permit you are liable for on-the-spot fines and even prosecution under the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021, and your animals may be impounded by Council and sold. If your straying stock are a contributing factor to a motor vehicle accident, you may be charged with a criminal offence. Rangers and Police regularly patrol the local government area to monitor for straying livestock in public places. 

For further information regarding livestock movement permits or livestock ownership responsibilities, please visit the NSW Local Land Services website https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/i-want-to/apply-for-a-permit or phone 1300 795 299.