Drover Brian Glendinning is angered by the decision of South East Local Land Services (LLS) to push the mob of cattle grazing in the Upper Lachlan Shire (ULS) out.
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In less than a week, the mob will be redirected towards Rugby on the Boorowa Road.
It will mean that he and partner Jodie Mitchell will be out of work, but could also mean that the stock may be sold due to the lack of feed on-farm.
Mr Glendinning is shocked by the decision, which he said goes against what the LLS advocates, and the animals’ welfare. “If the LLS don’t come to the party… there isn’t enough feed at home.”
Since October, 852 Angus cattle from Braidwood, made up of core breeders and weaner steers, grazed the roadsides on the Travelling Stock Routes in Golspie to Peelwood Road, and Cuddyong Road in Binda.
The mob had been moving towards Taralga, until the campdraft was cancelled, “then LLS put us on a direct route out of the system”.
In 13 years he had not seen anything like it and could not understand it. “It’s ... weak. There’s no logical reason to hunt us out,” he said.
“There’s enough feed to keep us going for six months.”
The roadsides were tidier, and less of a fire hazard and there is good visual, he added.
“We’re leaving enough feed to backtrack… you don’t flog it down to bare ground.”
The drovers also carry their own water supply.
While he hoped the decision would be changed, he was beginning to look for alternative routes.
He also said the stock owner paid $2000 per week to use the route.
LLS disputed , saying the charges for accessing the route were approximately $1100 per week.
- LLS issue 79 permits since July
Since July 2018, 79 permits have been issued in the Goulburn, Southern Highlands, Crookwell and into the Upper Lachlan Shire area.
Those permits have let 970 sheep and 2351 cattle, not including mob in question, out to graze.
The mob in the area has covered approximately 350 kilometres, said Aaron Smith, Goulburn area local manager, South East Local Land Services (LLS).
LLS has worked closely with the drovers and stock owner of the mob travelling in the area, we have worked to manage access to the route, adapting plan of travel to the conditions, and will continue to do so to work out a solution, for the livestock and the local community, he said.
There are over 6000 ratepayers in the Goulburn and Crookwell area, those who wish to access the TSR network, or to roadside graze, should contact their nearest LLS office to apply for a permit.
