Livestock and Horses

To keep livestock or horses on a rural residential or special residential lot, approval is needed. Planning approval is also needed for buildings associated with livestock.

A Stock Management Plan or Equine Management Plan may be required.

When keeping livestock, it is important to make sure stocking and other land management practices do not further add to land degradation and amenity issues.

Keep livestock

Keeping livestock is subject to:

  • Land size and zoning
  • Soil type
  • Quantity and type of stock
  • Environmental implications and management
  • Animal welfare considerations
  • Planning approval.

Stock must be located:

  • At least 50 metres from a natural river, waterway, lake, conservation category or resource enhancement wetland.
  • At least 30 metres from drainage line, private water supply bores or dam.
  • At least 15 metres from a dwelling house, public building or premises where people are employed or where food is stored, prepared, manufactured or sold.
  • Outside an area recognised as being flood prone or subject to seasonal inundation.
  • Outside of areas with a slope of greater than 10 per cent.
  • Outside of areas containing remnant native vegetation or revegetation.

Other requirements:

  • Individual trees located within a yard area are to be protected from damage from livestock.
  • Stables for horses to be enclosed on a minimum of three sides, with either a hardstand concrete or 300mm of crushed limestone base.
  • All horse manure be stored in a sealed container and disposed of off-site.

Land management

Livestock practices must be in accordance with the carrying capacity of the land, in a way that:

  • Prevents soil erosion and land degradation.
  • Protects native vegetation and wetlands from damage.
  • Protects ground water and waterways from pollution
  • Does not result in adverse amenity impacts, particularly relating to dust, odour, noise and fly and rodent control.
  • Demonstrates compliance with State Planning Policy 2.1.
  • Ensures the welfare of the animals.

Adequate natural shelter or stabling, compliant with the requirements of the building code, must be provided. Owners must ensure shelters are kept clean and hygienic, free of flies, vermin and disease. 

Register livestock

In most cases, livestock owners are required to register as an owner with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Irrigate paddocks

If you intend to irrigate paddocks for stock, you will be required to obtain a water licence for stocking purposes from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. You must supply a copy of this to the Shire when submitting your application to keep livestock. 

Water licensing