They cover more than two million hectares across the state and are important economic, cultural, social and environmental assets to our regional communities. The use of these reserves has changed over time. They were once used solely to move livestock from farms to markets or railheads. Now they have multiple uses, from grazing in times of drought, public recreation and conservation.

But let me make this clear – the overriding condition of any lease of a travelling stock reserve is it must remain able to be used for its primary function, travelling stock.

I think it’s important to provide some clarity around the future direction for the long paddock in NSW.

Today, the management of these reserves is the responsibility of Local Land Services (LLS) and is not and does not intend to lease Travelling Stock Reserves for the purpose of mining/coal seam gas activities.

Any suggestion otherwise is completely misleading. Local Land Services is also not increasing the area of the Travelling Stock Reserve network under longer terms leases. It is the same parcels of land that have been leased in the past – and there are no additional parcels of land being leased out.

The reason they are now being advertised in the paper is that in the past the granting annual or longer term leases was not open and transparent – and when it comes to publicly-owned land transparency is non-negotiable. To ensure the long term sustainable management of these travelling stock reserves, Local Land Services is currently developing a state wide management framework, which the community will be consulted on extensively.

The primary purpose of these reserves is to move stock – always has been and I am determined to keep it that way.

Niall Blair

To have your say on TSRs or other rural issues visit our website www.therural.com.au