A PLAN to allow cattle to graze in Victoria's Alpine National Park has been slammed as scientifically flawed and unable to advance scientific knowledge or bushfire management.

The Federal Government has granted permission to the Victorian Government to let 60 cattle graze at a former livestock station, a move welcomed by the state after it failed to overturn a federal ban in 2013 on grazing in the high country.





The trial will begin soon and run until the end of May.

But the Australian Academy of Science says the trial is scientifically flawed and should not proceed.

In a submission to the Victorian Government, the academy said the trial would likely have “unacceptable adverse impacts” on national heritage and threatened species.

They also slammed the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries for failing to conduct a thorough review of the scientific evidence and data, calling that unacceptable and “scientifically indefensible”.

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said there was significant, ongoing fire risk in the High Country and cattle grazing might help reduce the risk.

But the academy said the cattle grazing trial “cannot advance scientific knowledge or bushfire management”.

“No scientific rationale has been provided as to why the trial grazing-program is required, including from the perspective of managing bushfires,” its submission said.

The previous Labor government intervened in 2011 to stop cattle being reintroduced to the alps, saying grazing would have a significant impact on the park’s heritage value.

But the National Party has campaigned for the park to be opened to livestock, claiming the country had long been used by cattlemen and grazing could prevent bushfires.