Linear reserves (roadsides, travelling stock reserves, utility easements, rail corridors) cover about 6% of the state of New South Wales, Australia. This presentation was delivered to the 2022 Conservation in Action Conference and describes ways to manage these environments and the role of the NSW Roadside Environment Committee.

1. NSW Roadside Environment
Committee
Managing linear reserve
environments in NSW

2. What are linear reserves?
- Roadsides > 2m ha
- Travelling stock routes (TSRs) – 2.5m ha
- Public utility corridors > 800,000 ha
- Rail corridors > 35,000 ha
The total is estimated at 6% of NSW land
area and two-thirds of the
total land area of National Parks in NSW

3. Values of linear reserves
Environmental
• Native Remnants
• Maintenance of ecosystems and threatened
species
• Ecological corridors and environmental
connectivity through a landscape
• Prevents land degradation
• Climate change values including carbon
sinks and adaptation of Ecologically
Endangered Communities (EECs)

4. Value of linear reserves
Economic
• First and foremost provide transport
routes for road users and stock
• Grazing areas for stock during drought
• Support public utilities such as gas,
electricity and telecommunications
• Space for stockpiling and machines
during construction and maintenance
• Fire management
• ossibility of carbon credits

5. Value of linear reserves
Social
• Cultural and historical values
• Visually appealing – improves the
character and sense of place and provides
landscape representation
• Contain Indigenous and non-Indigenous
heritage items
• Recreational use for road trips and drives

6. Issues in managing linear
reserve environments
Include:
• Fire Management
• Weed Management
• Safety vs Environment
• Wildlife strikes
• Litter reduction

7. Best Practices
Four stages of development:
• Assessment
• Planning
• Implementation
• Monitoring and Evaluation

8. Recent major initiatives

9. Who is involved in the REC?

10. What does it do?
• Provides support, advice and resources to linear reserve
managers
• Promotes best practice management of these
environments
• Provides education to the broader community about the
importance of linear reserve environments in NSW

11. How the REC can help
SERVICES:
• Help with SREA signage
• Website
• REC Newsletter
• Other advice about management of
linear reserve environments
RESOURCES:
•Linear reserve env document store
• IP&R Framework guide
- Assessment guide
- Planning guide
- Implementation guide
- M&E guide
• Rapid Assessment Methodology

12. Forum
• Wednesday 17 May in Sydney

13. Contacts
• Website:
https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/about/what-we-
do/committees/roadside-environment-committee.html
• Mailing List: Join the REC mailing list to receive a quarterly update on
activities, training, publications, case studies and lots more. Contact the
Executive Officer.
• Enquiries: Any enquiries should be directed to the Executive Officer who will
provide or seek the relevant information from the most appropriate
committee member
• Administration:
The REC has independent administration through environmental consultants Molino Stewart.
Contact: Neil Dufty
Executive Officer NSW REC
Phone (02) 9354 0300
Mobile 0427 130 283
Email: ndufty@molinostewart.com.au

14. Thank you