Cattle conundrum

Roadside grazing has become less frequent in recent years due to the risk it can pose to traffic.

Liberal Member for Western Victoria Beverley McArthur is urging shires to see the benefits of roadside grazing and relax regulations surrounding the practice.

“I’m certainly in favour of shires across the state encouraging roadside grazing and droving, firstly to enable agistment of cattle from affected areas elsewhere, and secondly to deal with the roadside vegetation danger in their own areas.

“Roadside grazing is a preventative measure, one I’ve advocated for years now, in all rural localities.”

In mid-2018 the Corangamite Shire looked to encourage roadside grazing by reducing the for a permit from $52 to $1.

The practice is far less common in the Surf Coast Shire.

At present, the Surf Coast Shire has not received a request for a permit since 2003.

Surf Coast Shire general manager of environment and development Ransce Salan said the benefits must be weighed against the potential danger to traffic.

“Under Council’s Local Laws, farmers can apply for a grazing permit, subject to stringent conditions. The issuing of these permits is rare because of the danger that roadside grazing presents to road users.”

“Any future applications would be treated individually and assessed against key criteria.”

Local farmer Keith Grossman said he believed in the right circumstance roadside grazing could be helpful.

“Where the roads are not that busy, they could certainly be grazed. It might be alright if you were near Winchelsea or further out.”

Mr Grossman said farmers have been deterred from slashing around their properties due to the difficulties of obtaining a permit, and may face similar obstacles with roadside grazing.

“It’s too hard to get a permit because they say there’s a native weed or a bit of kangaroo grass. The by-laws are just ridiculous, so no one even entertains the thought of going outside their boundaries.”