Licensing of Unused Roads
In many rural municipalities an unused road may be licensed to the adjoining land owner for the purpose of grazing livestock or a similar agricultural purpose.
In Victoria the responsibility for the licensing of unused roads resides with the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, but Councils typically decide whether the licensing of a road is appropriate.
Councils have the power to declare to the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) that a government road is not required for public traffic. The road then becomes an unused road. Councils also have the power to require that an unused road be opened for public traffic.