A ROCKBANK resident has slammed Melton Council’s handling of an incident in which four cows wandered near roads for several hours.
Melton community engagement manager Daniel Hogan defended the council’s response, saying the inquiry was handled “professionally and appropriately”.
Bronwyn, who did not want her last name published, said she called the council about 4pm last Tuesday, seeking to have the cows, which were seen wandering on a vacant lot at Leakes and Greigs roads, rounded up.
Mr Hogan said Bronwyn was advised that should the cows start to wander on public roads after 5pm, she could call an after-hours service and the ranger on duty would take appropriate action to round them up safely.
Bronwyn said she called the council because she feared a serious collision between a car and a cow.
“Later that night, at around 11.30pm, there was a god-almighty bang,” she said. “I saw a dead cow in the morning.”
Bronwyn said the council’s “failure to act” was disappointing and neglectful.
Mr Hogan said this was a separate incident. He said local laws officers attended the scene the next day to find the dead cow had been removed. He said it was council policy that all reports of animals on roads be attended to, with animals either impounded or removed.
To contact council’s animal management service, phone 97477200
