A new article by Peter Spooner and colleagues at Charles Sturt University, titled “The New South Wales Travelling Stock Route and Reserve (TSR) network: Historical extent, spatial distribution and drivers of loss 1884–2017”, has been published in the Australian Geographer journal.
The paper documents the original extent of the New South Wales TSR network and changes during 1884–2017, and discusses the key drivers of reserve loss since the late nineteenth century. Research using archived literature showed that in 1884 the NSW TSR network comprised 4,413,728 ha. Comparisons of TSR acreage from that time with present estimates revealed that the reserve network has declined by 54% since its inception.
Technological changes in transport, environmental pressures and economic changes in the grazing industry were identified as key drivers of TSR loss. These findings support concerns over the efficacy of the TSR reserve network, where the extent and impacts of past government decisions to sell off TSRs has been grossly under-estimated.
The full article can be accessed here (with a subscription), or contact Peter Spooner directly.