Jul 17, 2014 -- An online stock route management system introduced by the Queensland Government to benefit local councils and graziers has won a major international award overnight.

Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said his department’s initiative received the Special Achievement in Geographic Information Systems Award at the world’s largest spatial information conference being held in San Diego, USA.

“This impressive award is further proof that the Newman Government has a strong plan to grow agriculture and supercharge regional Queensland,” Mr Cripps said.

“Our online stock route management system uses cutting edge technology to deliver real benefits to rural Queenslanders.

“The web-based system is unique in that it uses the technology to create a single, dynamic ‘smart map’ view of state government and council data.”

Mr Cripps said the department was selected from an international pool of more than 100,000 organisations for the award at the annual Esri International User Conference.

“Queensland’s stock route network covers 72,000 kilometres of road and 2.6 million hectares of land and plays a vital role supporting pastoralists and the livestock industry,” he said.

“We introduced the online stock route management system in late 2013 to help local councils better manage and maintain their stock routes and to speed up permit application assessments.

“The Queensland Government has also invested more than $1.5 million in the past two years to upgrade and improve water infrastructure across the stock route network.”

The Department of Natural Resources and Mines partnered with Esri Australia to develop the online tool. 

Esri Australia managing director Brett Bundock said the department had used Geographic Information  System (GIS) technology for more than 30 years to deliver significant benefits to the community.

“The Department of Natural Resources and Mines was an early adopter of the technology and has consistently proven to be one of the most progressive users of the platform in the government sector,” Mr Bundock said.

“In terms of GIS deployment, the stock route map represents a paradigm shift by delivering an unprecedented level of clarity and precision to support decision makers.”

The Esri International User Conference runs from 14–18 July 2014 at the San Diego Convention Centre, attracting 16,000 attendees from more than 140 countries around the world. 

More information about Queensland’s stock route network is available at  www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/land/accessing-using-land/stock-routes