By law, all animal livestock must be securely enclosed on your property. 

An enclosure is defined as the area of land on which the livestock is kept and is appropriately sized to effectively and comfortably house the livestock. Livestock is to be kept more than 10 metres away from neighbouring premises and commercial food manufacturing, preparation or storage for human consumption.

By law, livestock owners have a duty to provide proper enclosures and prevent animals from wandering or escaping. Livestock that stray from your property may be impounded by Gladstone Regional Council and only released after payment of set fees. 

What can I do if my livestock are straying? 

Livestock may stray for various reasons including an urge to roam, searching for food and water, and/or seeking company. If your livestock does escape from its enclosure, all measures should be made to prevent this from happening again.

Several precautions can be made to prevent your livestock from escaping to an unfenced area including regular checks of fencing and repairs if necessary. Having an adequately sized fence and enclosure, protects your livestock and the neighbourhood.

As a responsible owner please ensure that your enclosure is suitably fenced:

• High enough that the livestock cannot jump over
• Low enough that the livestock cannot crawl under
• Strong enough that the livestock cannot push through it
• Gates that are self-latching or kept closed and latched.

What should I do if I find straying livestock? 

Straying livestock can be restrained by any member of the public for collection by an authorised officer. After restraining the animal, check for any form of identification, if possible, before reporting it to Council.

Please do not approach the animal if it shows signs of aggression.

What happens if my livestock are caught straying? 

If your livestock are caught straying and are impounded, Council will take all reasonable steps to contact you. If you notice your livestock is missing, refer to Council’s Impounded Animal page.

Photographs and information about all impounded animals are uploaded on to Council’s website for public viewing. You may also like to upload your details and a picture of your livestock on to the Lost and Found Register if they are missing. If you think your livestock are impounded phone to arrange release.

Fees must be paid for the release of all impounded animals. If the animal is unregistered, it will be branded and/or earmarked prior to release. Livestock that isn’t claimed from the Council pound will be auctioned to the public. If the auction is unsuccessful the animal may be euthanised. For further information phone Council on (07) 4970 0700.

Straying stock during dry conditions

Livestock in our region contribute to Gladstone and Queensland’s economy and are the livelihood of numerous residents.

Our region is typically dry from June to October, during which time, livestock may stray from their property.

They can push through fences, escape through dry creeks and can jump over and even crawl under fences to find green grass, usually on the roadside or in a neighbour’s yard.

During dry conditions, especially drought with limited water and grass, livestock owners are faced with buying water and feed at increased prices due to high demand.

Council is aware that hardships may be experienced by owners as they actively work to feed and keep their livestock healthy.

Residents are asked to be mindful of the tough conditions for livestock and their owners.

Fencing can cost thousands of dollars per kilometre and these costs for owners compete with the costs of buying feed and water.

Council does not have jurisdiction to investigate welfare concerns, these can be reported to RSPCA or Biosecurity QLD.

Council will continue to investigate complaints of livestock straying however will endeavour to work with the owners in the first instance.

What can I do about my neighbour’s livestock straying on to my property?

All livestock owners have a responsibility and obligation to keep their livestock contained on their own property by having a suitable enclosure.

Reports of livestock roaming on a roadside are actioned as a priority to ensure that road users and the livestock are kept safe.

Council can investigate and issue compliance notices for fences to be repaired and for livestock found roaming at large.

When Council investigates, evidence of time and date stamped photos of straying livestock is needed, along with Witness Statements to enforce animals roaming at large.

However, where livestock are roaming between boundary fences and the enclosure needs repairs, only a warning notice will be issued to the livestock owner.

When this involves an internal boundary fence, Council is unable to undertake further action and the neighbours will be referred to dispute resolution services and dividing fences to reach a mutual agreement civilly.

Return to top