Drover Brian Glendinning is angered by a decision of South East Local Land Services (LLS) to push a mob of cattle grazing in the Upper Lachlan Shire out of the district.
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In less than a week, the mob will be redirected towards Rugby on the Boorowa Road.
It will mean he and partner Jodie Mitchell will be out of work, but could also mean the stock may be sold because of a 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, have 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 a planned annual Australia Day campdraft was cancelled, “then LLS put us on a direct route out of the system”.
In 13 years he says he hasn’t seen anything like it and can’t 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, less of a fire hazard and you could see better, he said.
“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 hopes the decision will be changed, he is beginning to look for alternative routes.
He also said the stock owner paid $2000 a week to use the route.
LLS disputed that, saying the charges were $1100 a week.
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 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 more than 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.
