Environment Victoria will today inflate a giant cow on the banks of the Barwon River in Geelong as part of its Cut the Crap campaign to highlight the issue of cows trampling and polluting the state’s rivers and creeks.
Livestock grazing on river banks is the number one manageable impact on river health in Victoria.
Environment Victoria Healthy Rivers Campaign Manager Juliet Le Feuvre said today:
“You wouldn’t expect to see cows grazing on the bank of the Barwon River in central Geelong. It’s a highly inappropriate place for a cow to be.”
“Yet the Napthine government just extended licensees to allow cows, sheep and other livestock to trample on river banks throughout Victoria where they are causing serious damage and pollution by defecating in rivers.”
“Fencing stock out of rivers brings great benefits for wildlife and enhances water quality. Unrestricted livestock access is a key impact on river health in the Geelong area and has the potential to be a risk to human health as well.”
“Statewide around 4,500 tonnes of cow poo ends up in rivers and creeks every day.”
“Fencing the rivers would cut down water treatment costs, help reduce flood damage, create a wildlife corridor and improve habitat for fish. Fencing programs create regional jobs, improve property values and make stock management easier for farmers.”
“Much of the damage to our rivers is taking place on public land on river banks. This is a readily manageable problem with a simple solution.”
“Geelong residents already pay the environmental levy on their water bills to cover the costs of policies like this, but the Napthine government has squandered that money over the past four years.”
“Environment Victoria is calling on all political parties to make a fully funded commitment to excluding livestock from public land and restoring our river banks.”
“Our politicians need to cut the crap and get on with the job of fencing stock out of Victoria’s rivers.”
For more information contact: Juliet Le Feuvre 0428 770 019