What do we know about goats? We usually see them with their heads down munching away on grass and cruising on the side of hills. Picture the walk to Byron Bay Lighthouse ( if you have been there) and you know what I mean, the goats teeter on the side of the cliffs, oblivious to the height and steepness of the cliff face and munch away - just like these two crazy characters.
Let me briefly introduce Laguna Beach, an affluent California City - 22,723 people, 10,821 households with a population density 2,313.8 people per square mile (893.4/km²). Houses are positioned on cliffs and very prone to the danger of fires due to the 'brush' that covers the cliffs. The City had to think outside the square when it came to fire control as they were prohibited to backburn.
Now I'll introduce the goats and you probably know where I am going!
The council has its own goat herd which it moves from cliff top to cliff top to eat the 'brush' and control fire hazards, but lets not stop there - as a side line they get a revenue stream through selling the surplus goats
I just thought I'd add this as a fun blog. It's been done for centuries but I still thought it innovative of a small council to buy a herd of goats for themselves.
Fantastic Soph! So great ... now for Warringah ... hmmmm ....
ReplyDeleteKelly
Sounds good until one day they find some of the houses have fallen into the ocean as the goats have eaten too much brush which has led to erosion of the cliff.
ReplyDeleteGareth
tee hee
Deleteyes agree, erosion could be a problem, depends on rock type and density of goats... they could be good for bitou bush control, but biggest bitou problem in Warringah is on Long Reef headland which has very SOFT rock base..... suspect that goats my end up in the ocean as well as the golf course! Ah so we must leave the biological control of bitou to insects I suspect! We certainly have used fire to manage coastal scrub and weeds along the Dee Why to Curl Curl walk, now a lovely piece of native bush.
ReplyDeleteFiona, Warringah