AFTER 12 years of discussion papers, lapsed bills and parliamentary inquiries, local government in Queensland now looks at being able to directly collect money for grazing and travel permits.
Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham announced this at the AgForce state conference, while local government was briefed at the Bush Councils convention in St George. Councillors expressed reservations about the move, even as their leaders were welcoming it.
He said councils, under proposed changes to Queensland's state land administration, would be able to collect the funds graziers already paid. "Graziers will pay councils for their grazing permits, not the state government as they do now," Dr Lynham said. "Councils will then be able to use those funds to manage stock routes and invest in improved pest and weed control, protect the environment and reduce fire risks.
"As well, it will be the actual users of the routes who will be paying for their maintenance and management, rather than all of the ratepayers in the council's area."
The opportunity for councils to retain fees and charges was presented at St George as enabling local government to "realise economic opportunities and generate greater returns for their communities".
The state government will set a base fee for travelling stock and static grazing, and it will be up to individual councils to decide if they wish to set a higher fee than that.
Councillors questioned Natural Resources staff on whether they would then become responsible for funding maintenance and replacement of infrastructure on reserves and stock routes. They were told the government was yet to decide the answer to that. "The current fund is $500,000. We need to decide how much money local government will get; it's part of a future conversation," DNR spokesman Graham Nicholas said.
LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam said he had no sense of cost shifting but it was something his organisation would keep an eye on. Central Highlands Councillor Charlie Brimblecombe asked how shires funded maintenance in years when councils would receive no revenue from stock routes.
Mr Nicholas replied the state government now paid for this and there was no intention to change that, but saying it was part of the discussion still to be had. He said the fee proposal for permits to occupy were for the base to be what was currently charged. The ability of the state government to overrule council decisions was another concern for councillors at St George.
A 2013 decision by the Winton Shire Council to reject an application from NSW grazier Tom Brinkworth to use its routes was controversially overturned by the Newman government after inspectors reported sufficient amounts of food and water.
Mr Nicholas said the state would retain that reserve power under the new proposal, saying it was a state interest. Councillors said the government wanted the power with no responsibility.
Dr Lynham said legislation would be developed in consultation with AgForce and the LGAQ for introduction to parliament early next year.
