RESIDENTS have called for action on stray cattle after a woman was injured when her car hit a beast wandering on the highway at Cunningham’s Gap.
The woman was taken to Warwick Hospital with minor injuries about 7.30pm on November 1.
Residents say cattle are causing havoc on the Cunningham Highway and might soon cause a fatality.
Police said multiple reports of cattle on or near the highway were received before the accident.
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Mount Edwards resident Janine Eades said roaming livestock were a regular and dangerous occurrence.
“There have been so many times when I have seen a whole stack of them on the highway,” she said.
“Sometimes they’re owned by different local property owners and sometimes we don’t know where they’ve come from.”
Ms Eades said the issue was so bad that she was concerned for the safety of drivers.
“It’s bad enough we have to watch out for kangaroos but cattle too?” she said.
“There’s only two lanes. People are driving 100km/hr and there’s trees on both sides of the highway so you wouldn’t be able to see them.”
Scenic Rim mayor Greg Christensen said council had received 10 calls regarding livestock on the highway and three calls on Mount Lindesay Highway in the past three months.
“While council is not responsible for the maintenance of these roads, it does act on complaints of livestock wandering on road reserves,” he said.
Cr Christensen said there was always a possibility that drivers could encounter livestock or native animals like roos on roads as Scenic Rim was a rural region.
“In the first instance, anyone who sees livestock roaming on our roadways should immediately advise the police as it constitutes a traffic hazard, followed by a report to council,” he said.
Cr Christensen said laws required animal owners to keep their livestock and pets contained.
“It is important that owners regularly check the condition of their fences and gates to ensure their animals are enclosed and do not pose a danger to road users,” he said.
"A small amount of attention by the landowners to their fences and livestock, and drivers to potential hazards, will allow us all to enjoy a more relaxed, respectful experience.”
Ms Eades said the issue needed to be addressed quickly.
“It’s really dangerous and someone will get killed if nothing changes,” she said.
Police said one caller reported they had seen a vehicle nearly crash into a cow before last week’s collision.
It was thought about 50 head of cattle and horses were on the road at Cunningham’s Gap, Tarome and Aratula areas from October 28 to November 1.
Former Scenic Rim mayor John Brent’s vehicle crashed into a stray horse three months ago.
Jocelyn Garcia
Jocelyn is a journalist at the Redland City Bulletin, covering education issues and school stories. She was a former journalist at Beaudesert Times, reporting about crime, schools and agriculture.
Jocelyn is a journalist at the Redland City Bulletin, covering education issues and school stories. She was a former journalist at Beaudesert Times, reporting about crime, schools and agriculture.
