Horse ban bid anger

Kim Waters
HORSE riders fear “ludicrous” environmental regulations will fence them out of the Bellarine Peninsula, according to a Drysdale Pony Club representative.
Cheryl Hardy labelled Geelong Environment Council’s proposed bans on riding “ridiculously, grossly unfair”.
The environment council left virtually “no area at all” for horse enthusiasts, Ms Hardy said.
The environment council proposed bans on riding along vegetated roadsides and along the Bellarine Rail Trail in a proposal to City of Greater Geelong.
Ms Hardy said Geelong’s council was trying to promote riding and horse-related businesses on the peninsula.
“They say there are great facilities but basically the only place you can ride now is at pony club and if there’s an event on and you aren’t part of it then even that facility can’t be used.”
Ms Hardy slammed the environment council’s argument for the protection of “remnant vegetation”.
“I’m getting so over this remnant vegetation thing,” she said.
“Most of the roadside where my family rides is just natural grasses and there are a lot of plain old weeds that the council hasn’t bothered to clean up.”
Ms Hardy also attacked the environment council’s push to ban riders from the rail trail.
“A lot of people use that trail because many can’t afford to buy land with enough room to ride their horses.
“I don’t see why there can’t be two separate trails for bikes and horses because there’s plenty of room for a second one.”
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros believed that horses sharing trails with walkers and cyclists was “inappropriate”.
“It can be dangerous and unsafe and we think the problem of trains spooking the horses could result in accidents,” Ms Lindros said.
“There has been a lot of voluntary work gone into revegetating the rail trail and horses without a doubt will trample that vegetation.”
Ms Lindros said the environment council was awaiting a response on its submission.
“The submission suggested that vegetated roadsides, unused roads containing remnant vegetation and the rail trail are not suitable for horses.
“I understand horse riding is really popular and we aren’t criticising riders but we do need to be careful with our remnant roadside vegetation.”