Cattle / Stock
Crossing Roads
Code of Practice
October 2002
Cattle / Stock Crossing Roads Code of Practice
1.
Introduction
The Ashburton District Council has responsibility for the maintenance, development,
upgrading and safety of the districts 2620 km long roading network. (1441 km sealed and
1179 km unsealed).
For many NZ Dairy Farmers, the regular crossing of cattle / stock across public roads is vital
to the management of their farming operation.
Dairying is a significant activity carried out in the district making a significant contribution
towards the district and regional economies.
The movement of cattle / stock across both sealed and unsealed roads can have an impact in
2 primary areas. These are:
1. Safety of road users.
2. Damage to the road surface.
Council has prepared a document entitled Ashburton District Council Policy for the
Installation of Stock Underpasses. This document focuses on the construction of structures
to enable stock to pass under a road rather than cross it avoiding the impacts identified
above.
Council recognises that the district wide installation of stock underpasses is not achievable
in the short term and that there are other options and practices that could be used.
The purpose of this code of practice / guidelines document is to set minimum standards and
encourage and support good cattle / stock management practices when crossing the districts
roads.
2.
Issues
There are two significant issues impacting on the districts roads arising from the long term
crossing of roads by stock in particular cattle. These issues are detailed below:
1. Road user safety
- crossing locations and sight distances for road users
- signage – use and type
- the control of stock while crossing the road and restricting the length of road
crossed
- the impact of faecal matter on the road and the issue of skidding during wet
weather
2. Damage to the road surface
- the impact of faecal matter on the road and the breaking down of the road
surface
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3.
Cattle / Stock Crossing Guidelines and Management Practices
3.1
Crossing Location
Cattle / stock are to cross the road in the most direct route and at right angles to the
alignment of the road.
3.2
Advance Warning Signage Location and Operation
Warning signage is to be erected either side of the crossing. Signs are to be located prior to
the crossing at a distance that will provide sufficient warning and facilitate safe stopping
distances for vehicles travelling at the posted speed limits.
Signs must be permanent and comply with the Manual of Traffic Signs and Markings. Refer
to Appendix A for details.
Advance warning signage must be open when cattle / stock are crossing and immediately
closed when all cattle / stock have crossed the road.
3.3
Cattle / Stock Crossing at Night
When cattle are crossing the road outside the hours of daylight (i.e. half an hour before
sunrise and half an hour after sunset) flashing amber warning lights or other suitable
‘flashing light’ systems are to be erected and used in conjunction with advance warning
signage. No white lights are to be visible to on coming traffic from either direction.
Where cattle / stock cross the road on a regular basis during the hours of darkness, serious
consideration is to be given to the installation of a stock underpass in accordance with the
Ashburton District Council policy for installation of stock underpasses.
3.4
Cattle / Stock Control
Gates are to be constructed on the property boundary on either side of the designated
crossing. On high use roads (sealed) cattle / stock crossing the road must be under
supervision at all times. On low use roads (unsealed) cattle / stock must be under control
while they are crossing the road. Gates must be closed when traffic is approaching to
minimise inconvenience to road users and reduce the risk of losing control of the cattle /
stock.
At all crossing points and gateways a well drained hard fill surface with a camber free
draining profile is to be constructed and maintained at the farmers expense from the edge of
the road back to a point at least 10 metres on each side of the road.
3.5
3.5.1
Fouling of the Road Surface
Stock Cattle Management
Cattle / stock management should consider the impact of faecal matter deposited on the road
surface. Consideration is to be given to holding cattle back approximately 50 metres from
the entry point onto the road prior to crossing the road. This measure will reduce the
deposition of faecal matter on the road surface.
3.5.2
Constructed Mitigation Measures
Options for ‘constructed’ mitigation measures include:
- Construction of a concrete crossing area across the road (Construction details are to be
discussed with the Ashburton District Council).
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3.6
The use of purpose designed and made mats towed onto the crossing area prior to cattle
crossing the road. The mat being removed immediately after all cattle have crossed.
The construction of a stock underpass in accordance with Ashburton District Councils
Policy for the installation of stock underpasses.
Road Cleaning
When excessive fouling occurs following regular crossing of dairy cattle over the road the
person or persons responsible for the cattle shall make all reasonable efforts to remove
faecal material from the road surface as soon as practicable. When fouling has occurred to a
point where it presents a hazard to road users the road is to be cleaned immediately.
3.7
Being a Good Neighbour
Where dairy cattle are regularly crossing the road, such crossings, should not result in
unreasonable inconvenience to other road users.
Obstructions that reduce road user visibility such as vegetation are to be removed. There are
to be no constructed obstructions to road visibility arising from farming activities in the area
of the cattle / stock crossing.
3.8
Intermittent use of Cattle / Stock Cattle Crossings
Where there is infrequent use of cattle / stock crossings (i.e. say on average once a month)
the requirements of the Ashburton District Council Bylaw 1635 Droving Stock or Sheep is
to apply. Refer to Appendix B for details.
4.
Code of Practice Compliance
A farmer has complied with the Cattle / Stock Code of Practice when:
- Advance warning signage and / or flashing lights have been installed.
- Cattle / Stock are controlled within the defined crossing area.
- There is minimal faecal material left on the road after all cattle have crossed.
- There is minimal damage resulting from cattle / stock crossing the road.
5.
Enforcement
5.1
Fouling of the Road
Where the movement of dairy cattle or other stock across any sealed or unsealed road has
resulted in excessive fouling of the road surface (assessed to be fouling covering 30% of the
road surface in the area of the crossing) Council may require the person or persons
responsible for the stock to clean the road surface as far as practicable to a point where no
more than 30% of the road surface is fouled at any time. If this is not done the Council may
arrange for the work to be carried out and the cost of the work will be a charge on the
property on which the cattle / stock are located.
Council supports the use of purpose designed and made mats at cattle / stock crossings
to mitigate the fouling of the district’s roads.
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5.2
Wandering Cattle / Stock
Any stock wandering uncontrolled arising from poor stock control at designated crossings
that result in the attendance of Council’s animal control staff or their agents may result in
the associated costs being a charge on the property on which the stock are located.
5.3
Signage
It is the responsibility of the person or persons controlling and managing the cattle / stock to
ensure all signs are maintained and operated in accordance with the requirements of this
Code of Practice document. If signage is not maintained to the required standard within 5
working days of notification of work being required, Council will carry out the necessary
work. The cost of this work will be a charge on the property responsible.
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Appendix A
Stock Warning Signage:
Permanent Warning Signs – Yellow
Temporary Warning Signs - Orange
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Appendix B
1635 Driving stock or sheep
1635.1
Except as may be provided pursuant to Sub Clause 1635.2 of this clause, no person shall
drive any stock or sheep not in harness or yoke on any public place, except with the
prior permission in writing of Council and then only in accordance in all respects with
all conditions which may be imposed in granting such permission.
"Driving" for the purposes of this section of the bylaw means moving stock or sheep on
the hoof.
1635.2
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sub Clause 1635.1 and 1635.4 hereof, stock and
sheep may be driven in rural areas At all times during the period after sunrise and before sunset on District Roads
without Council's written permission provided the following conditions are
complied with:(i)
The number of animals in any one mob shall not exceed 600 head of cattle
or 3000 head of sheep and drovers in charge of mobs shall be at the ratio of
one competent drover to every 300 cattle or part thereof, or 1500 sheep or
part thereof.
(ii)
The drover shall keep the animals moving at all times so as to make
progress towards the destination at a reasonable rate.
(iii) Suitable signs must be displayed, and crossings shall be sited to permit
effective and safe stopping distances for road users. Signs shall be to a
standard determined by the Council and Transit New Zealand and all
signage shall be provided by the Stockowner.
1635.3
Council may from time to time by special order publicly notified declare certain roads
to be stock routes and prohibit or restrict the use of any other roads for the driving of
stock or sheep. Any such declaration, prohibition or restriction may from time to time
in like manner be altered or revoked.
1635.4
Driving animals at night
No person shall drive any animals on any road during the period between half an hour
after sunset and half an hour before sunrise unless sufficient warning is provided and
maintained by such person by the use of lights or other effective devices or means to
ensure that other persons using such road shall have adequate notice of the presence of
such animals on the road.
1635.5
No person shall lead a horse or permit or suffer a horse to be led from or by a motor
vehicle on any public place except a public road verge. In such case up to four
horses (but only two abreast) may be led from a properly constructed frame
attached to a motor vehicle.
1635.6
No person shall lead more than one horse or permit or suffer more than one horse to be
led from or by any other vehicle on any public place for any purpose whatsoever.
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