Council concerned by increase in wandering livestock reports

Published on 04 June 2025

Gannawarra Shire Council will be conducting patrols across the municipality following an increase in the number of reports receive relating to wandering livestock.

A drier than average start to the year has contributed to the increase in the number of reports received, with Council concerned by the risks uncontained livestock, such as cattle and sheep, pose to motorists.

“Council is sympathetic to farmers needing to viably provide feed for their livestock, however residents are legally obligated to keep livestock confined on their property and maintain adequate fencing,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

“Livestock seeking feed on the road reserve will easily push through or over a fence that isn’t in good condition.

“Wandering livestock are also a danger for motorists, with incidents costing time, money, and in the worst-case scenario, lives.”

Livestock owners can reduce the risk of animals escaping their property by ensuring all fences and gates are in an adequate condition and of a suitable type.

“It does not matter if you are a landowner or a leasee, all rural residents who own livestock play a role in ensuring animals cannot escape from their properties,” Mr Rollinson said.

Meanwhile, rural residents are reminded that as per the Community Amenity Local Law 2023, grazing and droving of livestock is prohibited on roads and road-related areas within the Gannawarra Shire.

“If residents need to move livestock across or along roads, specific regulations must be followed. These include displaying proper signage, ensuring you can control the livestock, the livestock is supervised at all times, livestock is moved only during daylight hours, and livestock are only on the road for the time it reasonably takes for them to be moved to their destination,” Mr Rollinson said.

Failure to contain livestock to the property or allowing livestock to graze on road reserves is an offence under the Impounding of Livestock Act 1994 and Gannawarra Shire Council Amenity Local Law 2023 (Section 27). Penalties and enforcement procedures, including the impounding of such livestock, may apply to owners failing to comply with these laws.

For more information or to report roaming livestock, please phone Council on (03) 5450 9333.