By Tate Papworth
A once prominent attraction is wasting away.
Horseshoe Bend Farm was once home to cows, pigs and a place where the community came for weekend’s and birthday parties.
These days it’s home to dilapidated buildings, thousands of thistle weeds and plagued by rabbits.
The farm was closed to the public in 2010, but after a six year battle it was reopened to the public in 2016.
Since then, there have been frequent calls for the land to be utilised more prominently, but last year Parks Victoria chief ranger David Collins told Star Weekly the low-key approach to the re-opening was by design.
“At a meeting in 2016, the community indicated to Parks Victoria they are supportive of plans for a low-key opening of the reserve,” Mr Collins said.
“Parks Victoria is also working with community groups on low-key activities that will be suitable for the reserve.”
Locals say the “low-key” approach is code for doing nothing.
Nigel Silver frequently rides through the area and says it’s gone to ruin.
“It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s 26 hectares of wasted land. It’s astounding what’s happened to this.”
“[It is] something of a post-apocalyptic ghost farm taken over by massive thistles, rabbits, soldier ants and the occasional magpie. Its underlying beauty and potential nonetheless is still there for all to see.”
Mr Silver suggested Parks Victoria take immediate action and return the farmhouse to a habitable condition and appoint a farm manager who could live there for free and who would work on the farm to an environmentally sustainable plan to recover the land from the current level of pests and infestation.
“It should include opportunities for unemployed, disadvantaged and traditional land owners to work or train on agricultural activities to bring the land back into a productive and restored land use.
“The precise scope of this land use to be planned out and to include animal husbandry or not as appropriate.”
Parks Victoria was contacted for comment.
