Queensland still has an extensive system of stock routes. some are  
good corridors of native vegetation and in spite of 150 years of use  
still are good places to find native grasses and other vegetation.

A government review is currently in hand and there has been a fear  
that many may be closed , sold or leased for full time grazing. A  
coalition of groups including Birds Australia, BOCA, Birds  
Queensland, Queensland Conservation Council, Wildlife Preservation  
Society of Queensland, National Parks Association and many others  
have been working to ensure they are kept and maintained as corridors  
of biodiversity.

A similar campaign is underway in NSW to conserve their remaining  
stock routes.

There has been some success in Queensland as evidenced by the  
Ministers Press release below.

Peter

Minister for Natural Resources and Water and Minister Assisting the  
Premier in North Queensland

The Honourable Craig Wallace
08/05/2008

STOCK ROUTES TO STAY IN QUEENSLAND, SAYS WALLACE

The Queensland Government has no intention to sell off or lease  
Queensland's iconic stock route network - in part or whole, Natural  
Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said today.

"Droving stock is alive and well on Queensland's stock routes and  
likely to increase in future as the price of petrol rises," Mr  
Wallace said.

"The Queensland Government strongly supports these vital livestock  
routes - the so-called 'long paddock' - which covers 2.6 million  
hectares and runs for 72,000 kilometres," he said.

As well as servicing the pastoral industry, stock routes have a role  
in protecting biodiversity.

Mr Wallace said last year the government established a Stock Route  
Assessment Panel to the review the management and use of stock routes.

"The panel has only recently completed the report and has provided it  
to me," Mr Wallace said.

"I will look at this report in detail and announce the government's  
response to this report when that process is completed," he said.

"However, I can say that this government has no intention to sell off  
or lease the stock route in part or in whole.

"We are likely to see more, not less, stockmen and stockwomen droving  
mobs down stock routes in Queensland."

Recent media reports have called on the Queensland Government not to  
sell or lease parts of the stock route.

The Stock Route Assessment Panel included representatives from local  
government, cattle industry representatives nominated by Agforce  
Queensland, the Drovers Association and Land Protection Council members.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace's office, on 0407 131 654
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