Photos of Aussie tourist town reveal unlikely solution to major national issue
For the past several weeks, ravenous goats have been working their way through thick vegetation in hard-to-reach areas of the Putta Bucca Wetlands — a disused quarry turned native paradise located just outside the western NSW town of Mudgee.
From April to June, the animals were guided to dense areas where machinery could not reach, helping to reduce the bushfire risk at the popular outdoor spot ahead of summer, all while supporting the unique surroundings.
'The herd was moved progressively through the site to target over-vegetated areas while avoiding disturbance to environmentally sensitive zones,' Hollie Smith, an operational officer for NSW RFS — Cudgegong District, told Yahoo News.
Video footage of the dozens of goats eagerly munching on long grass in steep, rocky and wet terrain has been praised by Aussies online, many of whom deemed the project a 'fantastic idea' and requested it be "conducted near their home".
The clip also shows before and after images of the grazed areas, highlighting the stark difference the animals made.
Goats remove invasive weed species, help regenerate native flora
The goats, which grazed a total of 12.3 hectares, were confined using temporary fencing and 'strategically placed to match areas with high fuel loads or specific vegetation targets', Smith explained.
'They are only kept in each section for a short period — just long enough to effectively reduce the fuel loads.' And that's not the only benefit.
'The goats also consume invasive weed species and research shows that after passing through their four-chambered digestive system, only about 15 out of 1,000 seeds remain viable — helping support the natural regeneration of native flora by reducing weed competition,' Smith told Yahoo.
The animals were supplied and managed by Dry Creek Farm at Mudgee. The local contractor specialising in targeted land management via grazing runs a herd of about 200 goats, with a rotating number used on individual jobs.
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Goats utilised across NSW as part of ongoing grazing trial
The project is part of a continuing trial into targeted grazing that was developed by NSW RFS in response to the state government's inquiry into the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
'Putta Bucca was identified in the Cudgegong District Bush Fire Risk Management Plan and, due to its proximity to residential areas, environmental significance, and limited machinery access caused by thick vegetation growth, it was considered an ideal location for the trial,' Smith said.
Similar trials have been conducted in various areas of the state as part of an ongoing effort to explore alternative hazard reduction methods, including the South Coast, the Liverpool Ranges, and the Wellington Caves near Dubbo.
The trial was also carried out in Clandulla late last year following a wetter-than-average spring, Smith said.
'Another site that has been grazed within the past four years is along the Lue railway corridor. In both locations, the local communities have enjoyed seeing the goats in action and have taken a strong interest in the valuable role this method plays in bushfire risk management.'
Several countries utilise goats to help clear flammable vegetation including the US, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece.
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