Thread: Cattle back in the VicHigh Country

See how long it takes the occupants of an outback homestead to get out of bed and turn on the lights when you drive past, fire a single shot in the air and start up a chainsaw. Once was a popular practical joke in Western Qld.

Gazillions of deer, wild brumbies, pigs, wild dogs and cats etc etc.

What's a few hundred cattle going to do?

(dons flamesuit )

I notice the negatives are not from Vic....hmmmm

Doesn't mean their opinions aren't valid. NSW and ACT have alpine high country too.
The subject is very emotive in Victoria so a few inter-state views are refreshing IMHO

Originally Posted by kaa45

I notice the negatives are not from Vic....hmmmm

I've seen the effect firsthand of Ardenside's cattle roaming the NSW Snowies Between them, the bloody feral horses, pigs and the ever increasing deer population our native flora doesn't stand a chance!

I was also in Vic for the '09 fires and have been firefighting for 17 years. High Country grazing does not reduce fuel loads in the critical mountain areas - only the grassland plains that were cleared for cattle grazing in the first place

i assume you are some kind of expert on the subject since you are from Vic?

I have been riding trail bikes and 4wding in the Vic Alps for 40 years. I have been on tracks that most people will never travel on as the good tracks are slowly being turned into easy tracks or closed.
In all that time I can honestly say the only nuisance of having cattle in the high country is cow pats and there seems to be more flies. can anyone honestly say they noticed any real damage the cattle caused because I can not.
The cattle do keep the grass down and undergrowth clear. How many people can honestly say the grass at Wonnangatta was not at a dangerous length since the cattle have been removed? The same goes for many other areas.
The club I am involved with owns land that borders the National Park and a very popular 4wd track runs right through our property. There has been a very noticeable increase in undergrowth in the Alpine Park since the cattle have been removed. I cant say I will enjoy the increase in flies now but I think the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.
The other benefit is, if there needs to be access for cattle and cattle are allowed, then Parks Vic will have a bigger job trying to force us out and close more tracks.

Ian

Originally Posted by amtravic1

The cattle do keep the grass down and undergrowth clear.

And this is good in a native ecosystem because...?

Originally Posted by amtravic1

How many people can honestly say the grass at Wonnangatta was not at a dangerous length since the cattle have been removed? The same goes for many other areas.

Never been there, but dangerous to who and why?

Originally Posted by Ranga

And this is good in a native ecosystem because...?


Never been there, but dangerous to who and why?

In a native eco system the bush is regularly burned. low intensity fires are a common occurrence. Poor management by Parks Vic means that undergrowth builds up to a very high level with no cattle to keep it down. Then, when a fire occurs the intensity is much greater as seen over the last seven or eight years in Victoria. A small low intensity fire with not much fuel can usually be controlled before it does much damage. With the huge fuel loads since the cattle were removed the fires are much harder to control.

Wonnangatta Station is a very popular place for 4wd based camping. When cattle were allowed there the grass was only ever ankle high. Since cattle were removed the grass grew to waist high. The potential for a disaster was high with maybe a few hundred people spread out and camping along the valley during holiday periods. It is a miracle there has not been a fire there in the hot months (not this year because summer seems to have avoided us) with there being no escape for many people.

Hopefully with the change in the Victorian government the current group will have more realistic views on proper management of the Victorian National Parks instead of heeding to the whims of the greens who gave preferences to the previous government.