A herd of feral goats believed to have originated from an abattoir is eating its way through more than $100,000 of vegetation along the banks of Kororoit Creek at Brooklyn.
In 2013, about 60 feral goats were removed from the area.
Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek president Geoff Mitchelmore said either some had slipped through the net or more had since escaped and bred, with a herd of about 50 now living on the old Brooklyn tip owned by Pelligra Group.
He said Melbourne Water had spent more than $100,000 of people’s water rates over the past three years on planting many thousands of trees and shrubs along the creek.
“All of these thousands of indigenous trees and shrubs have been eaten by a reported 50 or so feral goats that have made their home at Old Geelong Road, Brooklyn, the old landfill site previously owned by Cleanaway, now Pelligra Group,” Mr Mitchelmore said.
“City Circle Demolition, Brooklyn, through its environmental program, have thousands of indigenous trees and shrubs ready to plant along Kororoit Creek but cannot because the goats will destroy them.”
Mr Mitchelmore said his group and Friends of Kororoit Creek wanted Pelligra to remove the feral goats and install rabbit-proof fencing along its four property boundaries.
City Circle manager Matt Skidmore said planting was due to begin in April or May.
“But due to the wild goat population in the area, we’re going to plant a 20-metre trial area and then we’re going to see what effect because in the past, with Melbourne Water and with us, a lot of our planting has been destroyed by the goat population,” he said.
Melbourne Water’s Ben English said since 2009 up to 10,000 native trees and bushes had been planted on the eastern banks of Kororoit Creek at Brooklyn.
“Unfortunately, a significant number of these plants have been destroyed or damaged by feral goats in the area,” he said.
“A collaborative effort to control the goats was successful in 2013, but a new group of goats is now roaming freely on privately-owned land between Somerville Road and Old Geelong Road. This land directly adjoins the east bank of Kororoit Creek.
“This land is not owned by Melbourne Water and it is the responsibility of the land owner to control pest animals on their property under the Catchment and Land Protection Act.”
A Pelligra representative said no one was available to comment.
