NSW Linear Reserves Environment Network

Participants in the LREN:

• share information and other resources relevant to improving the environmental management of linear reserves

• use LREN networks to improve co-ordination between LREN participants

• come together on a regular basis to learn about new initiatives and processes relevant to linear reserve management.

The LREN commenced on 1 July 2024 and was formerly known as the NSW Roadside Environment Committee (REC).  All resources associated with the REC have been archived and can be found in REC archive documents section on this page.

What is a linear reserve and why are they important?

Linear reserves include road and rail corridors, travelling stock reserves, and infrastructure easements.

Many roads, particularly in rural areas, exist within a ‘roadside reserve’ which provides a buffer between the road and neighbouring lands. Roadside reserves in NSW cover approximately 1 million hectares, ¹ of which about 50 per cent contains native vegetation.

There are also over 10,000 kilometres of rail lines in NSW including active and inactive public rail networks, freight lines and sidings. Like road reserves, remnant vegetation can be found in some rail reserves which cover approximately 55,000 hectares, ² of which about 42 per cent contains native vegetation.

Travelling stock reserves are another type of linear reserve. Local Land Services cares for, controls and manages about 500,000 hectares of TSR land, concentrated mainly in the central and eastern divisions of NSW. The TSRs in the western division are generally covered by western lands leases and as a result, leaseholders manage the care and control of the western TSRs.

Many linear reserves have not been managed in the same way as neighbouring rural lands and still support important habitats, particularly for flora. One study of the Newell Highway found that the roadside:

• had better vegetation coverage capable of forming landscape scale connections
• had better plant recruitment, better tree age demographics and tree health
• were more ecologically diverse
• supported wider range of habitat features such as coarse wood debris, dead trees, tree hollows
• showed less erosion and soil degradation
• stored 3 times more soil carbon

Linear reserves are often the only remaining intact natural environments in the region. Linear reserves provide critical wildlife habitat especially when connected to native vegetation remnants and may assist in addressing threats associated with climate change. 

_{[1] This figure is derived from a geospatial analysis of roadside reserves using NSW Landuse 2017 v1.5 mapping (December 2023).}

_{[2] Also based on geospatial analysis using the NSW Landuse 2017 v1.5, (December 2023).}

Linear reserve managers in NSW

There are several organisations that have important roles to play in the management of linear reserves:

• Ausgrid
• Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)
• Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT)
• Essential Energy
• Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) NSW & ACT
• Local Government NSW (LGNSW)
• Local Land Services (LLS)
• Nature Conservation Council (NCC)
• NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
• NSW Department of Industry - Crown Lands
• NSW Rural Fire Service
• UGL Regional Lynx (Country Regional Network).

All these organisations are part of the LREN.  Should your organisation wish to be included in the LREN please email: environmentandsustainability@transport.nsw.gov.au and let us know how your organisation participates in linear reserve management in NSW. 

REC Archived documents