Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority
Photos showing the vegetation before and after the trial
CFA has completed its first ever goat‑grazing fuel reduction project, with remarkable results achieved over five weeks at Gateway Island in Wodonga.
The initiative showcases an innovative, environmentally friendly approach to managing high‑risk vegetation.
The six‑acre site on Gateway Island, managed by the Gateway Lakes User Group and the Bravehearts Dragon Boat Club, had become heavily overgrown with woody weeds, grasses and extensive blackberry thickets. The density of the vegetation created a significant fire hazard, particularly given the area’s frequent use by local community groups.
Traditional reduction methods such as machinery and planned burning were unsuitable because of the terrain and vegetation.
To address these challenges, CFA’s District 24 Vegetation Management team partnered with local vegetation management business EnviroGraze, which supplied a herd of 95 goats to clear the targeted area. Goats were identified as the most suitable option because of their ability to move across uneven ground, push through hard‑to‑reach areas and eat blackberry growth, including the dense mid‑storey layer that increases fire intensity.
In just five weeks the goats had removed the plant material within the containment area. Their grazing created a valuable canopy lift, reducing ground and mid‑layer fuels that would otherwise allow a fire to travel upward into tree canopies.
The project was supported by the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce, which provided fencing panels to safely contain the goats. These resources are also available to community groups undertaking similar blackberry control work across the region.
The timing of the project proved particularly valuable, as goat‑based fuel management can continue safely during months when planned burning is not possible. The trial allowed fuel reduction work to progress during the Fire Danger Period while CFA volunteers were committed to other operational demands.
The success of the Gateway Island trial demonstrates the potential for goat grazing to become a viable option for future vegetation management projects.
The approach aligns with CFA’s commitment to flexible, innovative fuel reduction methods that meet local needs, protect the environment and reduce bushfire risk for communities.
| Submitted by | Georgia Rose, CFA Vegetation Management Officer |
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