ARCHIVE FILE
This article was published in 1937
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RESERVES IMPROVEMENT
Mr. H. M. BLOOMFIELD, Inspector of Stock, Cooma.
Previous to the reserves being placed under the control of the Pastures Protection Boards, all the travelling stock reserves in the Cooma P.P. District were unfenced, being open spaces situated within the boundaries of holdings and under lease. They were badly infested with noxious weeds and rabbits and bare of feed; there were no conveniences for drovers to camp and hold their stock, so that they were of very little use to the travelling stock.
After the reserves were placed under the control of the P.P. Boards and provision made under the P.P. Act for the collection of permit fees for travelling stock, funds for the improvement of the reserves then became available, and since then most of the important reserves have been improved and withdrawn from lease, and they are now enclosed by substantial rabbit-proof netted fences and cleaned up of noxious weeds and rabbits. They are now well grassed, and drovers can now get a good camp and allow their stock secure freedom on the reserves.
Where necessary, other improvements, such as water conservation and ringbarking have also been effected. The improvement of the reserves, which previously were of little use, has now made them a valuable asset to both the Government and stock owner.