Stock Damage
Stock can cause damage to Goulburn-Murray Water assets, damage to assets results;
- in costly repairs, 
- inconvenience to irrigators through minor flooding on farm,
- inability to achieve required flows,
- water pollution,
- minor flooding of roads,
- hazards to motorists.
Goulburn-Murray Water's aim is to minimise the risk of pollution of water and damage to Goulburn-Murray Water assets from livestock.
Stock damage constitutes a contravention of section 288 of the Water Act in relation to damaging the Authority's works and also contravenes the Authority's By-law in relation to the control of stock on land under the management or control of the Authority.
Typically banks can be eroded which results overtopping the bank: leakage around structures occurs and also structures may be damaged. Cattle occupying the waterway can damage clay or other linings, provide pugs which retain water in winter and encourage weed growth. Also access tracks may be damaged and present a risk to employee safety.
Pollution of water supplies by livestock can occur via several methods when stock graze, drink, and move along channels and drains. Stock may also die in these channels and drains. During hot weather stock will look to drink and often cool down by entering, often in large numbers into the channel. These activities provide a direct point source of pollution by animal waste. The water quality can be impacted by increasing turbidity and suspended solids, higher nutrient inputs through animal waste and silt deposits, introduction of water borne disease, pathogenic viruses and parasites.
Irrigators are enouraged to use stock watering troughs and fence easements and reserves to prevent stock from damaging channel and drain banks.
