City of Melbourne to stop issuing new permits for CBD horse carriages

MELBOURNE’S iconic horse-drawn carriages are set to be reined in as Lord Mayor Robert Doyle takes aim at the “cowboys” of the industry.

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MELBOURNE’S iconic horse-drawn carriages are set to be reined in, with the City of Melbourne announcing it will stop issuing permits for parking or rides on the busy Swanston St thoroughfare.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle took aim at the “cowboy” operators in the industry, claiming many drivers were taking dangerous and avoidable risks.

“We had reports of them doing U-turns in front of trams, we’ve had a couple of incidents where one horse bolted,” he said.

“There are some great operators, but there are also some cowboys and that’s the problem with the industry.”

Melbourne Metro Tunnel works on Swanston St will no longer allow for carriages to be parked or operate from their current location.

The horse-drawn carriages are a familiar sight on Swanston St. Picture: Eugene Hyland

The changes will come into affect from June 30, but it’s a move that does little to prevent the horses from travelling through the busy thoroughfare, with Mr Doyle saying he has “no power to stop them”.

“They are defined as vehicles so they can travel through the city if they wish to,” he said.

“I can’t stop them doing that; my preference is that they don’t,” Mr Doyle said.

He said increased traffic and metropolitan works meant the carriages will be left to walk through parks and quiet areas of the CBD.

“I don’t think the central city is the place for them,” he said.

Existing permits will be allowed to continue and will not be classed as illegal.

Animal rights organisation PETA Australia welcomed the announcement, as “a victory for anyone concerned with the welfare of animals”.

Protesters rally against Melbourne CBD’s horse carriages last year. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Associate director of campaigns Ashley Fruno said: “Horse-drawn carriages are not only cruel to the horses who are forced to work long hours, often in extreme weather conditions, while walking on hard pavement and inhaling exhaust fumes, but are dangerous to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.”

VicRoads spokesman Robyn Seymour said horse-drawn carriages were permitted to use the city roads and had no plans to change these rules.

“As carriages are not motor vehicles they are not required to be registered or licensed but like cyclists, operators must obey the road rules or face penalties from Victoria Police,” Ms Seymour said.

Currently, there are five operators who are permitted to operate up to 14 carriages.

The city’s permits allow them to sell their services at a public place within the municipality.

Additionally, there are three companies operating without City of Melbourne permits.

The current horse-drawn carriage permits are due to expire in June as well.

“I can’t stop them from going on the streets, they are a vehicle and are defined in the road act and that’s a matter for VicRoads,” he said.

“(I think) this business of trying to permit them and then police that … has failed.”

The Lord Mayor said examples of horses bolting, dangerous routes and illegal trading had caused the cut to permits.

“I think they’re dangerous,” he said. “When a law cannot be enforced, then it is a useless law.”

A separate horse-drawn carriage parking area on St Kilda Rd will remain.