Council saddling up help to keep grass in parks down 

Published on 31 March 2025

Meet the newest addition to council's parks maintenance crews.

This Shetland pony is one of some new four-legged variety of workers.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council was trialling the use of Shetland ponies and goats to assist with keeping on top of grass in council’s high-profile parks.

“We got the idea from some of the rural councils, which use goats to assist with grass and weeds maintenance,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

“We’re going to tether some goats and Shetland ponies, like this little one called April, in high-profile parks in the region, starting today.

“This one is in Jubilee Park near the council administration building.

“We are also trialling ponies and goats in Northview Park at Glenella, Mulherin Park at the harbour, Camilleri District Park in the Northern Beaches and the Gooseponds in North Mackay.

“If successful, we’ll source more ponies and goats for summer, when it is traditionally difficult to keep on top of the fast-growing grass.”

Mayor Williamson said the ponies and goats would be tethered in the parks during the day.

He said they would then be housed at Mackay’s Animal Management Centre overnight before being transported back to their respective parks.

“This will be a very cost-effective way of managing our parks and open spaces.

“We don’t have to pay the animals wages. We only pay for some feed.”

Any businesses interested in sponsoring a pony or goat can have their logo painted on the animals, with all funds raised to go to the 2025 Mayor’s Charity Ball.

Mayor Williamson said manure and droppings would be used to fertilise the gardens in the respective parks.

He urged people to stay away from the animals while they were in the park.

“They’re not dangerous. But we don’t want people patting or feeding the animals as they really need to concentrate on the job at hand.”

The trial finishes at noon today.