Council may send an impound notice to the owner of impounded livestock. The notice will outline the applicable fees that must be paid before the livestock can be reclaimed. 

Fees may include the following:

• An impound fee
• Transport costs
• Maintenance charges
• Any applicable veterinary costs.

Unclaimed livestock may be sold after 7 days.

Council encourages livestock owners to maintain good fencing to prevent their livestock from escaping. 

Be prepared, keep in touch with neighbouring properties and exchange contact details.

If necessary, an occupier of private land may impound any animal that is trespassing on their land.

If you DO NOT know who owns the trespassing livestock:

• Contact council for assistance in finding the livestock owner

If you know who owns the trespassing livestock:

• Contact the owner of the livestock
• If the livestock owner has not claimed the animals within 4 days, contact Council for assistance

If you keep the livestock on your land before being claimed by the owner, you must make sure the livestock is:

• Provided with adequate food, water and veterinary care
• Kept in a place that is well-drained and maintained in a clean condition
• Provided with adequate shade for the climatic conditions
• Kept secure
• Separated from other animals that are diseased, or if the animal is or appears to be diseased, it is kept separate from other animals

If the owner of the animal claims the animal, you must do one of the following:

• Release or send the animal to its owner on payment in full of an appropriate charge
• If the animal’s owner declines to pay the appropriate charge, contact Council for assistance
• Release or send the animal to its owner without payment in full of the appropriate charge

If you release or send the animal to its owner without the appropriate charge being paid in full, the owner has seven days to pay you the appropriate charge and any costs you incurred transporting the animal home. If the amount remains unpaid, you may recover the charge and expenses from the owner as a civil claim (via Local Court).

What is an ‘Appropriate Charge’?

The appropriate charge is an amount not exceeding:

• The expenses actually incurred in providing the animal with food, water and veterinary care

• The cost of rectifying any loss or damage attributable to the trespassing of the animal.

Roaming livestock that have escaped from their paddock and have no owners present, can pose a significant safety risk. Especially, if the stock is wandering on or near a public road.

Report roaming livestock:

• On main roads posing an immediate threat ring 000
• During business hours Council's Customer Service team 13 CAMDEN (8.30am-5pm)
• After-hours report to the NSW Police Assistance Line 131 444