Northern Tablelands Local Land Services is responsible for managing 46,700 hectares of Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) which means they have many neighbours right across the region. They are committed to maintaining a neighbourly friendship with landholders who own farms alongside TSRs.

Image - Northern Tablelands LLS TSR Project Officer, Helen Ward, has marked out trees along a TSR east of Inverell so that the neighbouring landholder can replace the fence line.

Recently, NT LLS have worked closely with their neighbours around Walcha to clear fence lines and repair fences following the devastating December storm and have worked with neighbouring farmers near Armidale on a native revegetation project.

Landholders routinely talk to their neighbours before repairing or replacing fences on their boundaries and replacing boundary fences which border the ‘Long Paddock’ is the same – it is all part of maintaining good relationships.

When the LLS are notified that a fence is down, they can make sure there are no travelling stock passing through that will stray onto properties.

TSRs are also widely valued for conservation, Aboriginal culture and recreation. TSRs are home to endangered native vegetation communities and also act as wildlife corridors. They provide a food source and habitat for endangered fauna species such as koalas, Regent Honeyeaters, sugar gliders, and quolls which have been spotted along a number of TSRs in our region.

It is LLS's job to maintain the TSRs so that everyone benefits from them. They appreciate most people do the right thing but when someone steps outside permitted activities, they have a responsibility to protect the interests of the whole community.

LLS regularly visit farmers who plan to replace fences along TSRs or work on access roads, to reach an agreement for these activities to go ahead. They provide a letter of authority that outlines what they have agreed with the landholder and that gives the surety that they are working within the legislation.

The most common illegal activity on TSRs is the collection of firewood, particularly at this time of year. Fallen timber and standing dead trees provide excellent habitat for native animals so the removal of timber threatens their survival.

The LLS appreciate the efforts of their neighbours and the Northern Tablelands community in working with them to make sure the TSRs are in good condition now and in the future.

For more information on permitted activities on TSRs please contact Ross Fuller on 0429 909 827.