Livestock
Trespassing Stock
Where an occupier of land finds livestock have trespassed on to their property which has been adequately fenced, the occupier can impound the stock and charge trespass fees.
If the owner of the stock is known to you, you may detain the stock in a convenient place on your land, but you must notify the owner within 24 hours.
You can do this personally or by delivering a written notice (detailing number of stock, description, any brands/ear-tags, where the stock were found and details of any trespass rates that you wish to claim) to the stock owner’s home.
You must feed and give all necessary care and attention to the stock during the time they are on your property.
Once the owner has paid all required sustenance and trespass fees (as posted below) to you, you must release the stock.
If the stock are not claimed within 48 hours or if the owner of the stock is not known to you, you must make arrangements to deliver the animals to the nearest stock pound and advise Council staff of these arrangements.
Once the stock are impounded, Council will send a notice to the owner (if known) or advertise the animals and, if claimed, recover all Council costs plus sustenance/trespass/cartage costs on behalf of the land-owner. If the stock are not claimed, they are sold by public auction.
Trespass rates
Trespass on any paddock of grass or stubble | Trespass on any land bearing any growing crop or from which the crop has not been removed, or in any reserve, cemetery, or burial ground | |
For every horse, cattle beast, deer, ass, or mule | $2.00 | $5.00 |
For every sheep | $0.50 | $1.00 |
For every pig or goat | $5.00 | $10.00 |
Sustenance fees
$4.00 per head per day
