Countryside Code

There are a number of versions of the Countryside Code that are all commonsense guidelines that assist people living in or visiting rural areas to respect other people's feelings and property and to look after the environment.  The guidelines below have been taken from page 24 of the Fourth Edition of NSW Agriculture's (now Department of Industry & Investment) "Farming in a Small Way".

• Observe quarantine and transport restrictions on plants and fruit operating in various parts of the state.

• Seek permission from owners to enter property for any purpose.

• Leave gates on properties as they are found – open or closed.

• Respect other people’s property – fences should not be cut, broken or stretched by climbing over them.

• Souveniring is another name for stealing. Don’t remove anything from a property without the owner’s permission.

• It is stealing to remove sand, soil, gravel or rock from a property, the bush or seashore.

• Never abandon dogs or cats in the bush – they will kill and eat stock and wildlife to survive. Never allow dogs to disturb stock.

• Never throw live matches or cigarettes from vehicles.

• Don’t smoke near standing crops or stubble.

• Fire can kill – extreme care must be taken when lighting fires, and they must be extinguished. Be aware of fire bans, and precautions before lighting fires.

• Don’t use streams as toilets.

• All native animals, reptiles and frogs, almost all native birds and many native plants are protected by law, do not disturb them.

• If you use trail bikes and other off-road vehicles, use them with consideration of the landscape – they can scar it permanently and cause erosion. • Do not deface natural features or Aboriginal carvings – they are part of the Natural Estate.

• Leave fishing spots free of scales, gut and unused bait. Ensure you have an appropriate licence to fish.

• A fossicker’s licence is necessary for gold or gemstone fossicking. Fill all holes.

• Keep bags for rubbish in vehicles or boats for proper disposal. Don’t throw rubbish from vehicles or boats or leave by the roadside or at natural picnic-spots.

• Clean water is scarce – salt or fresh, do not pollute with soap, detergent or litter.

• Do not remove live shells or other marine life from foreshores – they will die.

• Take proper precautions before bushwalking or driving into rough country. Lives can be lost in rescue operations.

• Drive slowly over dusty roads and when approaching stock.

• Slow down when driving on gravel roads and avoid windscreen damage.

• Radios should be turned to reasonable listening level.

• If you intend using a gun, you must have a shooter’s licence and you must observe the provisions of the Firearms Act 1996.

• Keep within prescribed speed limits for power boats to prevent bank erosion and to avoid noise pollution.