Public Land Grazing Management Strategy (closed 26 June 2026)

The Draft Public Land Grazing Management Strategy (the Strategy) is part of a greater effort by Council and other stakeholders to understand, and address identified pollutant sources entering Norfolk Island’s marine, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.  

It is part of a project funded through the Australian Government’s Our Marine Parks Grants program.  It directly corresponds and feeds into Council’s Draft 10-year Norfolk Island Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy 2026-2036 that Council intends to put on Public Exhibition later this year. 

The Strategy is not intended to address broader agricultural development initiatives beyond the scope of public land grazing management. It focuses specifically on cattle grazing on public land, including areas such as road and public reserves where grazing occurs, or could potentially occur.  

It was developed through extensive consultation with the Norfolk Island Cattle Association (NICA) and outlines practical measures to mitigate environmental impacts, enhance pasture and grazing management, and progressively refine carrying capacity estimates as monitoring data becomes available. 

The Strategy recommends a coordinated package of management measures intended to reduce environmental risk while maintaining viable cattle grazing on public land. 

These recommendations are intended to be implemented across each Grazing Zone with the implementation of each recommendation tailored to suit each specific area within a particular Grazing Zone. Importantly, the Strategy recommends that current cattle grazing management should also continue with integration of the recommendations. 

Submissions closed: 
4:00pm, 26 June 2026.

Document for public exhibition:
Public Land Grazing Management Strategy Draft(PDF, 8MB)