The Rubyvale, Sapphire and Scrub Lead Miners Common will be restocked at a reduced capacity later this month, following ongoing pastoral assessments by the Central Highlands Regional Council and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The common was destocked late last year as a result of very poor quality and quantity of forage available and poor landscape productivity and stability.
‘The common will be available for agistment again from 18 May 2016, but we will be reducing the stocking rate to ensure future sustainability,’ Coordinator Ranger Services Andrea Hewitt said.
‘We will continue to monitor the pasture levels and the land condition over the next few months and will vary the carrying capacity in accordance with these assessments.
‘We are still enduring drought conditions, so we ask residents to be mindful that if the weather is not kind to us we may have to destock again. Animal welfare and the health of the land are our top priority.’
Under the Fossicking Regulation 2009, council is identified as the controller of the common. This means management of all agistment on the land is delegated to council and applications are to be lodged with council. The land is owned by the Queensland Government.
A meeting will be held at Roy Day Park in Sapphire on 17 May 2016 at 6.00 pm for prospective stock owners to explain the agistment application process and discuss general business.